Zookeeper quits Local 10 after viral video of dog kicking, leaves jail

MIAMI DADE COUNTY, Florida. — A zookeeper who rose to internet fame after police say he was filmed kicking a small dog in his care last month quickly made a run for it to elude Local 10 News after being released from jail on bail Thursday morning.

Richel Yumar Gonzalez, 33, ran out of the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center around 10:30 a.m., immediately after paying $500 bail.

Local 10 News was on the scene when Gonzalez was released.

It seemed he had timed his exit so well that someone was waiting for him at an auto parts store across the street. Gonzalez ran straight to the car, jumped in, and the pair quickly drove away.

The dramatic exit followed Gonzalez's arrest for kicking a small dog. The incident was captured by a doorbell camera at an apartment complex in northeast Miami-Dade earlier this month, according to police.

According to police reports, Gonzalez was filmed kicking the small white dog twice while wearing a shirt from the Hialeah-based Deluxe Mobile Grooming Company.

Authorities said the incident occurred about a week ago, and Miami-Dade police quickly launched an investigation. Gonzalez later turned himself in to authorities and confessed to the crime, investigators said.

The owner of Deluxe Mobile Grooming Company told Local 10 that Gonzalez was immediately fired following the incident. The owner condemned Gonzalez's actions, stating that such behavior would never be tolerated and that he must face the consequences.

As for the little dog Coco, the owner reports that she has shown some behavioral changes since the incident. However, Coco was taken to the vet shortly after and is expected to be OK.