Fruitland Park man arrested after strangled chihuahua rescued from dumpster

A Fruitland Park man was arrested for strangling his chihuahua and cat because he claimed to have nowhere to place them. 

Police responded to the residence of 16 Captains Point in reference to a man, later identified as 65-year-old William Victor Brown, having homicidal or suicidal tendencies, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

While enroute, the complainant remained on the line and advised that Brown had killed his own dog and cat by strangulation, the report said. 

Once at the residence, the officer found Brown talking to the complainant on his cell phone. He was detained pending further investigation, and a welfare assessment was conducted inside his residence to confirm there were not any subjects inside requiring medical attention, the report said. 

The officer then spoke to the complainant through Brown’s phone, the report said. She stated that Brown informed her that he killed his cat and dog the night prior. He also told her he wanted to kill himself by use of his firearm.  

Brown advised that he strangled his black and white female cat and black and brown female chihuahua due to having nowhere to place them, both the animal being old and being unable to find a facility that would euthanize them. He admitted to committing the strangulation the night prior before placing them in a black plastic trash bag, the report said. 

While on scene, another officer found the dog alive inside a dumpster nearby and called LCSO Animal Control. The cat was never found, the report said. 

Brown was arrested on charges of death of an animal and attempted death of an animal. The New York native was transported to the Lake County Jail with bond set at $10,000.