PETA finds and identifies OC animal abuse suspect
April 17th, 2008, 11:15 am · 7 Comments · posted by Michael Doss
From the Register: Video of animal abuse leads to charges, arrest warrant:
The discovery of a video that authorities allege a 19-year-old Anaheim man posted on MySpace – showing him swinging a pug named Precious by its legs and repeatedly throwing a rabbit several feet in the air, only to let it crash to the ground – has led to six charges of animal cruelty and a $10,000 warrant for his arrest.
The 14-minute video, in which authorities say Deiss is seen abusing several animals, was uncovered last month by representatives of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty were filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued for Deiss’ arrest after PETA officials reported the video to county prosecutors.
The LAV contacted Kristin DeJournett, Cruelty Caseworker for PETA, this morning to get filled in on some of the investigation details. She says the group became aware of the Deiss video after it was emailed to them by a myspace user (Deiss posted the video to his page, as well as the page of at least two friends), and PETA then contacted law enforcement officials. The group also did some of the legwork for police in finding Deiss by tracking his web presence and cell phone number.
DeJournett also said that the dogs in the video belong to Deiss’s former landlord and that detectives are still searching for animals, as well as their guardian, in order to make sure the dogs are ok.
Update: As of 9AM, Deiss has turned himself in.
This story kept us busy last night, as Mr. Deiss makes himself pretty easy to find online and we had a lot of digging to do. Props to Kimberly Edds for her usual great reporting.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wow, must be a slow news day. Listen, he didnt kill any animals, didnt cut any, didnt make any of them bleed. I honestly dont see what all of this fuss is about. Seriously people, get over yourselves for getting so angry at this.
April 17th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
redoit, I’m pretty sure the rabbits were dead by the end of the video.
You don’t have to cut or bleed an animal for an act to be animal cruelty - there’s very little question that the acts depicted in the video qualify here.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
redoit - you are a moron! I wish you were one of those rabbits.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Redoit,
You must be a friend of that little piece of s**t that did this to these poor creatures. Maybe we should drop both of you from a 4 story building and see how well you guys land on your feet.
OCR can you please update this article if anyone finds the dog and if it is doing okay, thanks!
May 6th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
This makes me sick! My family and I rescue abused and abandoned animals from people like this…animals feel and remember everything that happens to them. This kid should be tortured himself…and anyone who doesn’t think that he was the abusing animals is crazy! My prayers go out to all the abused and abandoned animals out there.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Hey Madley, I see where you rescue abused and abandoned animals. have room for one more. will fill in details once i get an answer from you.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:39 am
There were animals killed and with broken backs from this jerk so yes reidiot/redoit you R WRONG