A 28-year-old man from Westminster has pleaded not guilty to felony animal cruelty charges after security footage captured him violently slamming his young dog to the ground outside a Long Beach apartment building. Alexander Cueva faces the charge along with a special allegation of using a deadly and dangerous weapon—his dog’s leash—during the attack. He is scheduled to return to court in Long Beach on May 7.
The incident, which occurred on January 21, 2025, was caught on a security camera outside an apartment on East 12th Street near Anaheim Street. The footage showed a German shepherd mix, approximately 6 to 8 months old, being hoisted by the neck with its leash, slammed to the ground, kicked in the face, and then dragged away by Cueva.
The disturbing video quickly went viral, prompting a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Long Beach police located and arrested Cueva on April 22 in the 800 block of Pine Avenue. While details about the arrest remain limited, Cueva has been in custody since his capture.
The abused dog, now named Rue, has been recovering in the care of Long Beach Animal Care Services. A recent update from the agency showed Rue thriving in foster care, where she is receiving love, training, and rest. Although the dog is recovering well, she is not yet available for adoption as the investigation continues.
Los Angeles County prosecutors have condemned the abuse as “calculated violence.” District Attorney Hochman expressed the office’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for such inexcusable actions. This case follows another recent animal cruelty charge filed by the district attorney’s office after a 40-year-old man was caught on video beating a dog with a metal chain leash in downtown Los Angeles.
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