Date:              May 25, 2021

Location:        605 E. Perkins St, Ukiah, CA

Suspect:          Aldar Fragoso, age 28 of Redwood Valley

Violations:      597(a) PC - Animal Cruelty Resulting in Death

On May 25th at about 3:22 PM, A Ukiah PD officer noticed a vehicle stopped, blocking the driveway of  the E. Perkins St. Chevron. The officer initiated a vehicle check and contacted a male occupant who was identified as Aldar Fragoso. Fragoso was uncooperative and exhibited bizarre behavior. Fragoso had red stains on much of his clothing as well as congealed blood in the center console of the vehicle. Fragoso was not cooperative and concerns grew for the subject’s safety as a bloody pair of pruning sheers was located and removed from the vehicle.

Mendocino County Sheriff's Department deputies, Paramedics, Firefighters, and Mental Health workers all responded to the scene, but could not gain compliance or cooperation from the subject. MCSO  deputies had contacted Fragoso earlier in the day and informed UPD officers that he had a dog with him. When asked about the dog, Fragoso said he did not have a dog. The sheers were presumptively tested on scene and were positive for blood but negative for human blood. Fragoso’s bizarre behavior and the scene led mental health and officers to detain the subject for further evaluation.

Fragoso’s vehicle was parked in a position that it blocked the driveway and was out of gas. A tow truck was called and an inventory search of the vehicle was conducted. UPD Officers located Fragoso’s deceased dog in a suitcase. The MCSO deputies who had contacted him earlier advised that it was the same dog they saw alive during their earlier contact. Based on the described circumstances and the evidence on scene officers charged Fragoso with animal cruelty and he was booked at the Mendocino County Jail.

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Prepared by: Sergeant Donohue