A man from Santa Barbara County is facing serious allegations of animal cruelty after reportedly killing and cooking his family dog, according to local authorities.
On April 18, officers from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office took 37-year-old Justo Alejandro Buenrostro into custody for the alleged killing of a dog named “Coco.”
Buenrostro is accused of fatally injuring and then cooking the dog at his home in Santa Maria. Although it remains unclear if he consumed the animal, deputies were dispatched to the scene at 3:31 p.m. following a report.
“Upon searching the property, deputies discovered evidence that indicated a family dog had been killed,” Officer Raquel Zick informed Noozhawk.
Animal Control officers arrived at the location, carried out an investigation, and took charge of the dog’s remains.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has since charged Buenrostro with one count of animal cruelty, accusing him of “maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, and wounding a living animal, specifically Coco the dog.”
The DA’s office included a sentencing enhancement for use of a deadly weapon, a knife. His arrest also led to an emergency protective order to keep Buenrostro 150 yards away from adults and children at his home.
The order says Buenrostro continued to cook the dog even as law enforcement arrived.
“The restrained person butchered and cooked the family dog and actively continued to do so when family found out and LE (law enforcement) arrived,” the order said, adding those named feared for their lives and safety.
Buenrostro has pleaded not guilty, according to Noozhawk, and is scheduled to return to court on May 21, when his attorneys and the judge could set a date for a preliminary hearing.
Buenrostro is in custody at SBCSO’s Northern Branch Jail as of Wednesday and is being held on $100,000 bail. His inmate listing says he has no occupation and is a 5 foot 8 inch, 170-pound Hispanic male.
