A man was arrested after he unlawfully entered a home in Dover and stabbed a pet with a machete. Alexander Hernandez-Delgado Jr., 25, faces charges of aggravated cruelty to animals with a weapon, and armed burglary of a dwelling.
On Thursday, December 1, 2022, shortly before 7 p.m. deputies responded to a home in the 12000 block of Wheeler Road in Dover in reference to a residential burglary. The victim told deputies that they saw the suspect walking away from their home wearing one of their hats. The victim also explained that the suspect had eaten food and thrown various items around in the home before leaving.
Through investigative means, deputies learned that the suspect came into the house through a door in the living room that was left unlocked. The victim’s puppy was found dead in a crate next to the door. A short time later deputies located the suspect across the street at a Dollar General store on Valrico Road. The suspect admitted to being inside the home, and he was arrested without further incident.
“I have zero tolerance for abuse of any kind,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Unfortunately, this is not the first case of animal cruelty we’ve seen recently. I can’t stress enough how important it is to me that these suspects face charges. This suspect has a history of violent behavior in the area, and it is vital that he’s held accountable so he can’t continue to harm any innocent person or animal.”
Delgado also faces charges of petit theft and remains incarcerated under a $50,000 bond in the Falkenburg Road Jail.