Santa Ana, California — A 75-year-old Anaheim woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a 9-month-old puppy that police say was intentionally run over in Santa Ana last month.
Hahn Nguyen was taken into custody Thursday morning after detectives investigating the Sept. 8 incident used automated license plate reader technology to identify the vehicle believed to have been involved, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
Police said Nguyen admitted to owning and abandoning the puppy, a male pit bull named Blackey. Detectives also found the vehicle believed to have been used in the incident parked inside Nguyen’s garage.
Nguyen was booked into the Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of animal cruelty and animal abandonment, police said.
Police Investigated Puppy Death for Weeks
The arrest came only hours after police publicly asked for help identifying a woman captured on surveillance footage connected to the puppy’s death.
Animal Services officers initially responded to the 900 block of West Park Lane after receiving a report about a dead black-and-white male pit bull mix that appeared to have been run over.
A nearby resident told investigators that a woman driving a minivan appeared to have intentionally struck the puppy.
Detectives spent several weeks canvassing the surrounding neighborhood as they worked to determine what happened and identify the vehicle and driver.
Investigators eventually obtained surveillance footage that police said corroborated the witness’s account.
Surveillance Video Captured the Incident
According to police, the surveillance footage showed an older blue or green Honda Odyssey parked in front of a home on West Park Lane at approximately 9:15 a.m.
Investigators said the woman got out of the minivan and removed the puppy from the vehicle. Police allege that she then placed Blackey beneath the minivan and put dog food near the driver’s-side door.
The woman subsequently returned to the vehicle and slowly drove forward while the puppy approached the food, according to investigators. Police said the puppy was struck by the rear driver’s-side tire.
The minivan then remained stopped on top of the puppy for approximately 15 seconds, before the vehicle left the area northbound on Lowell Street.
Blackey died from his injuries.
License Plate Was Not Visible
Although the surveillance footage captured the vehicle and the woman involved, investigators initially faced difficulty identifying the minivan because the video did not provide a readable license plate.
That prompted police to release the surveillance footage Wednesday and ask members of the public for help identifying the woman and vehicle.
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The public appeal came as detectives continued working to connect the footage with a specific vehicle and address.
License Plate Technology Helped Identify Suspect
The investigation eventually produced a breakthrough.
Police said investigative leads, primarily involving automated license plate reader technology, helped detectives identify the vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident.
Investigators were then able to trace the vehicle to an address in Anaheim. Detectives located the minivan inside Nguyen’s garage, according to police.
Nguyen was taken into custody Thursday morning, bringing an end to the weeks-long effort to identify the person investigators say was responsible for the puppy’s death.
Police said Nguyen acknowledged owning Blackey and abandoning him. She was subsequently booked into the Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of animal cruelty and animal abandonment.
The case remains an active criminal matter, and the allegations against Nguyen are accusations unless proven in court.
The investigation highlights how surveillance footage, neighborhood canvassing and automated license plate reader technology can be combined to identify suspects even when video does not capture a usable license plate.
What do you think about the investigation and the use of surveillance and license plate technology to identify the suspect? Share your thoughts in the comments.
