Man seen repeatedly hitting dog in viral Cabazon video arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) The man seen punching and throwing his dog in a viral video out of Cabazon is now under arrest.

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services arrested Craig Vincent Dallesandro on Aug. 13 with help from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, the department announced in a statement to News Channel 3.

He was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of violating Penal Code 597(a), the state's animal cruelty law.

The department released the following statement to News Channel 3:

"Following the removal of two dogs from a property in Cabazon on July 9th, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services arrested Craig Vincent Dallesandro on Thursday, August 13th, with assistance from the Riverside County Sherriff's Office. Dallessandro was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on Penal Code 597 (a) crimes against animals.

"This arrest is related to a social media video where one of the dogs was seen being repeatedly hit and thrown by the suspect. The two dogs remain on a confiscate hold and are currently not available for placement. This is an open investigation."

The arrest comes more than a month after the video spread across social media in early July, showing a man repeatedly striking a dog and throwing it to the ground at a Cabazon property.

Animal Services officers, assisted by sheriff's deputies, removed two dogs from the property on July 9. Both dogs remain on a confiscate hold and are not available for placement, according to the department.

Hours before the dogs were taken, Dallesandro spoke exclusively with News Channel 3. He confirmed he is the man in the video and admitted to hitting the dog, named Brody, and throwing him calling it the first and only time he had ever put his hands on one of his animals.

"That dog wasn't hurt physically, but that dog's pride was hurt," he said at the time.

He refused to apologize and said he would never contact the county about the incident.

Animal Services calls this an open investigation.

It is unclear whether the Riverside County District Attorney's Office has filed formal charges. News Channel 3 has reached out for Dallesandro's custody status and any upcoming court date.

This is a developing story. Stay with News Channel 3 for updates.