Lehigh Acres man arrested on animal cruelty charges

Ivan Garcia. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

A Lehigh Acres man was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Thursday on charges of animal cruelty.

The LCSO responded to a home in the 400 block of Rushmore Avenue after receiving a report of animal cruelty. A witness had notified deputies after hearing a dog yelping and its owner, 20-year-old Ivan Garcia, screaming at the animal.

When deputies arrived, they say Garcia’s black pitbull, Kano, had several lacerations and scars on its face, and Garcia had blood and dog hair on him. The Animal Cruelty Task Force and East Criminal Investigations Division assumed the investigation.

Detectives searched Garcia’s home, where they located animal blood on the walls and evidence indicating the dog had been severely beaten. Garcia was booked at the Lee County Jail and faces a felony charge for aggravated animal cruelty.

Kano received a medical evaluation at Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

Kano, Garcia’s pit bull. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

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