Animal Abuse, Domestic Violence Charges Lodged Against Coachella Man

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — An animal cruelty allegation led to the arrest of a Coachella man on suspicion of domestic violence and other charges, authorities said Monday.

Lt. Luis Rosa of Animal Services said his officers had reason to believe that a woman found at a Calle Techa property in Coachella may be a domestic violence victim.

Oscar Jesus Romero Moreno, 33, was arrested July 30 by the Coachella Police Department on suspicion of domestic violence, child endangerment and animal cruelty, according to Riverside County inmate records.

He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center, where he was released Aug. 2, according to inmate records. He is scheduled for an upcoming court appearance on Aug. 13 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

The chain of events began on July 24 when animal services officer Jose Cisneros impounded a 6-month-old terrier mix.

A witness claimed that Romero Moreno "picked the dog up from its neck, strangled it and slammed the dog." He then allegedly threw the animal out the front door and into a wrought-iron fence 15 feet away.

The dog appeared to have suffered a fractured hind leg, authorities said.

Animal control officers believed a woman found at a property might also have been subjected to domestic violence.

Animal Services submitted its investigation to the Sheriff's Department on Aug. 1, requesting that the District Attorney's office consider a felony animal cruelty charge along with the other allegations.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Animal Services officers collaborated on the investigation.