Video shows Florida cops pull over two men only to find badly injured endangered deer in back of SUV
MARATHON, FLORIDA: A new video showed the moment when Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies asked two people to pull over only to find an endangered deer stuffed in the back of their SUV. Yoankis Hernandez Pena, 38 and, Andres Leon Valdes, 45, tried to explain to the authorities why they were transporting an endangered Key deer early in the morning in July 2022.
The duo was stopped near Curry Hammock State Park in Marathon, Florida, per Local 10. The deer was injured and was found inside on top of a cooler, lawn chairs and other objects. The suspects told authorities that they accidentally hit the animal near Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon.
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What did the authorities say?
In the video of the incident, one of the deputies is heard saying, “I’m not buying the story." Another deputy said, “I’m not, either.” Then one of them said that there was no Key deer habitat near where the two claimed the deer ran out from and landed in front of their car. “We know there’s no key deer in Vaca Cut,” one of them is heard saying.
What happened to the animal?
After more officials were called to the scene, the deer was taken to the US Fish and Wildlife Service facility in Big Pine Key. A veterinarian found that the deer had its “back legs paralyzed and a shattered pelvis” due to which the hapless animal had to be euthanized.
Pena and Valdes face animal cruelty charges. Prosecutors said that the case remained active as of Thursday, March 2. The next hearing is scheduled for March 22.
Florida man beats pup to death
MEAWW previously reported that a 23-year-old Florida man was arrested on August 11, 2022, after he allegedly beat his five-month-old Goldendoodle so savagely that it died. Robert William Garon is facing a charge of cruelty to animals as authorities said it was the second dog to die in his care in a span of five months. He was also ordered not to have any pets or contact witnesses. Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said that it was "one of the worst cases of animal abuse they had seen." "No animal should ever have to suffer such a death," the sheriff said in a statement.