Yucca Valley Man Arrested for Beating Puppy

YUCCA VALLEY – A 4-month-old puppy sustained serious injuries after a Yucca Valley man beat him on Wednesday evening. At around 5:30 p.m. a 911 call was made reporting that a man staggering down the middle of the street near Antelope Trail and Barberry Avenue kicking the puppy. The caller told dispatchers that the man walked to a home in the 7000 block of Barberry Avenue, which the caller believed was the suspect’s home.

When deputies arrived at the home, they approached the garage of the home where they located Charles Lathrop,60, holding the German Shepard puppy down on the ground while he struck the puppy with his fist. The puppy whimpered and cried as he attempted to free himself from Lathrop. Lathrop was taken into custody and was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail for willful animal cruelty. Animal control took the puppy, who appeared to be seriously injured to a local shelter.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760)366-4175. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-

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