UPDATED: RIVERSIDE: Machete-wielding man who allegedly killed puppy during burglary pleads not guilty to charges

UPDATE: Friday, Aug 4, 11 p.m.

Machete-wielding man who allegedly killed puppy during burglary

pleads not guilty to all charges

RIVERSIDE — A Riverside area transient who officials allege used a machete to hack an 8-month-old Siberian Husky to death during a residential burglary pleaded not guilty to all charges against him when he was arraigned Wednesday, Aug. 2.

Armando Rosas Medina – who has an extensive criminal background with thirteen different arrests in Riverside County in the last three years – was charged with burglary, cruelty to an animal, vehicle theft and resisting arrest with violence. He was also charged with violation of probation, a prior state prison enhancement and a prior strike enhancement.

A Superior Court records search revealed Medina already has a strike on his record and he has prior arrests in Riverside County for possession of methamphetamine, attempted robbery, brandishing a weapon, domestic battery, possession of a controlled substance, being under the influence of a controlled substance and several arrests for other charges as well as violation of parole and probation.

An online jail records search revealed Medina remains in custody, held on $150,000 bail. His next court date is scheduled for a Felony Settlement Conference at the Riverside Hall Of Justice, Aug 11.

 

Man arrested after killing puppy with machete during burglary

RIVERSIDE — Authorities arrested a man they say attacked and killed a family pet with a machete while burglarizing a home, Sunday afternoon, July 30. The violent and bloody incident happened at a private residence in the 10300 block of Wagner Way, west of Tyler Street and north of Hole Avenue, in Riverside.

The man was apprehended by family members, who held the alleged suspect until officials arrived. The man then fought with and resisted officer’s attempts to arrest him.

After an investigation, officers arrested Armando Rosas Medina, a 23-year-old transient who resides in the Riverside area. He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside for residential burglary, attempted auto theft and auto theft, two counts of cruelty to an animal, resisting arrest using violence, parole violations and a prior state prison enhancement.

Officers responded to the home about 2:30 p.m., after a family called 911 to report a burglary in progress at the residence.

While officers were still en route to the location, the alleged suspect, who was later identified as Medina, was surrounded and detained by the victims as he attempted to steal their vehicle.

When officers arrived and moved in to arrest Medina, he allegedly fought with them and violently resisted arrest. In spite of his resistance, officers successfully took the man into custody after a brief struggle.

During their subsequent investigation, officers determined Medina had kicked open the back door to the residence, which was occupied at the time. After kicking down the home’s door, Medina ran into the residence, stole vehicle keys and several other personal items and fled from the home.

After running from the residence, Medina used a machete in his possession to hack the family’s dog to death. After brutally killing the dog, Medina attempted to flee in the victim’s vehicle; however, he was stopped by members of the family, who held the burglar and dog killer for responding officers.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services later responded and took possession of the deceased dog. Family members later said the dog was an 8-month-old Siberian Husky puppy.

An online jail records search revealed Medina remains in custody, held on $150,000 bail. His next court date is scheduled for a Felony Settlement Conference at the Riverside Hall Of Justice, Aug 11.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.