Man screams 'do you know who the f*** I am?' as he is held for trying to drown dog in Miami Beach surf
The 37-year-old, identified as Yerko Mendoza-Patino, was detained after dunking the canine's head into the surf at South Pointe Beach 'several times,' cops said.
Video obtained by NBC6 shows lifeguards rushing to the scene around 7.15pm on February 28 as the man screams: 'Stop f***ing touching me! Do you know who the f*** I am?!'
The man was seen gripping his dog by the collar and submerging its head while wading deeper into the ocean - all as furious onlookers screamed at him to stop.
Miami Beach Ocean Rescue struggled to free the dog as the individual resisted, at one point kicking water at those trying to help.
Once officers arrived, the situation escalated as the suspect flailed and shouted profanities as police forced him face-down into the sand and slapped on handcuffs.
Bodycam footage showed officers carrying him off the beach by his hands and feet as the crowd erupted in applause.
Several witnesses told police they had seen Mendoza-Patino kick the dog in the head while dragging it into the surf.
According to arrest documents, he initially gave police a false name and date of birth.
Officers also noted he 'actively resisted by tensing his body, pulling his arms away, and refusing verbal commands.'
The visibly shaken dog was gently led away by police officers, who comforted the pup before placing it in the back of a patrol cruiser.
Authorities said the dog was taken into protective custody and is now safe.
Mendoza-Patino was charged with animal cruelty, resisting an officer without violence, disorderly conduct, and providing false identification to law enforcement, WFOR reported.
Safe: Officers comfort the soaked dog before placing it gently into the back of a police cruiser
If convicted, Mendoza-Patino faces up to seven years in jail and $12,000 in fines, with the most serious charge, animal cruelty, carrying a maximum sentence of five years behind bars.
The footage emerged a month after a Florida pediatrician avoided jail for abandoning in a dumpster a dog that was forced to eat its own feces to avoid starvation.
Anita Damodaran, 38, pleaded guilty June 12 and was sentenced to two years of probation, after which her crimes may be expunged from her record.
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