Maricopa resident kills dog by setting it on fire
In Maricopa, a woman was apprehended for reportedly igniting her dog in the backyard of her residence.
In Maricopa, a woman was apprehended for reportedly igniting her dog in the backyard of her residence.
The Maricopa Police Department received a call on December 7 from a man claiming that his wife, Ambria Garcia, 39, had set fire to and fatally injured their dog.
Upon reaching the scene, law enforcement gained access to the backyard and discovered a red gasoline container near the house’s outdoor fire pit. Inside the pit lay the family’s 5-year-old Shih Tzu, described as “charred” in the report.
Garcia informed the responding officers that the dog had a history of biting and causing harm to others. She purportedly stated that on that particular evening, she burned the dog in the fire pit in self-defense as it had attacked her.
She explained to officers that she was attempting to “address the issue” and prevent the dog from causing harm to others in the future. Allegedly, the dog perished within moments of the fire’s ignition, according to the report.
During interactions with the MPD, Garcia repeatedly referred to the Shih Tzu as a “possessed rat” and claimed the dog emitted a hissing sound, likening it to the release of a demon.
The individual reporting the incident showed authorities a video allegedly depicting Garcia setting the dog on fire in the pit. He informed the police that he tried to communicate with her, but she remained unresponsive, opting instead to dance and laugh, as detailed in the report.
Garcia was subsequently arrested on charges of animal cruelty.
