Man arrested after being seen kicking a dog in a viral social media video

Detectives with the Miami-Dade Police Department's Intracoastal District say they have arrested a man who was seen kicking a small dog twice in a video that went viral on social media.

According to reports, on August 19, 2024, Intracoastal District detectives were contacted by Miami-Dade County Animal Services investigators who said they had received a report of an alleged animal cruelty incident recorded by a camera on a doorbell. In the video, a man wearing a t-shirt advertising a “mobile pet grooming business” can be seen kicking a small white dog twice in the head and neck before disappearing from the camera's view with the dog in tow.

Using investigative techniques, investigators were able to locate the owner of the mobile pet grooming business, who stated that he had immediately fired the employee seen in the video and would fully cooperate with the investigation. With the help of the business owner, the suspect turned himself in to investigators on August 21, 2024. The man, identified as 33-year-old Richel Yumar-Gonzalez, made a full confession and took responsibility for the incident.

Mr. Yumar-Gonzalez was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. The dog seen in the video was observed and treated by a veterinarian, who reported that the animal did not suffer any major physical injuries in the incident.