TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man has been charged with animal cruelty after he admitted to police that he locked his dog in the trunk of his car so he could "smoke a blunt," on Christmas Eve.
Kendall Nacoste, 22, was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty on Monday.
According to an arrest document, Tallahassee Police were called to an apartment complex in the 1400 block of North Meridian Road Monday afternoon about a dog that was trapped in the trunk of a car.
When officers arrived, they spoke to the complainant who said that she had heard a dog crying from the inside of the trunk and, when she went to try to hear the dog, saw a leash attached to a seat inside the car.
Documents say the officer tapped on the trunk of the car and the dog started jumping, barking and shaking the car. As the officer called for back up to help get the dog out, Nacoste walked over to the car.
After confirming that the car belonged to Nacoste, the officer asked him if he had a dog in the trunk of the car. According to court documents, Nacoste confirmed that the dog was in the trunk and told officers he had come outside to let the dog out.
When asked why the dog was in the trunk, Nacoste said that the dog had been in there for 20 minutes because he wasn't allowed to have the dog inside his apartment. He said he didn't leave the dog in the back seat because he was afraid the dog would scratch up the his "brand new television."
Documents say Nacoste gave officers a fake name when asked and, after managing to get the dog out, got inside his car and turned it on.
Officers told him to turn off the car and asked him to stand up and turn around. As they attempted to detain him, Nacoste ran away, saying he can't go to jail.
Eventually officers caught up to Nacoste and detained him at taser point. After being put in a patrol car, Nacoste admitted that gave a false name to officers.
When officers again asked him why he locked his dog in the trunk of his car, Nacoste said he wanted to "smoke a 'blunt.'" Animal control was called and the dog was removed from Nacoste's care.
Based on the evidence, Nacoste was charged with animal cruelty. He got out of jail on a $500 bond the same day he was arrested.
