Man Accused of Kicking, Swinging Tiny Chihuahua in South Pasadena Police Lobby Goes to Court Tuesday

The Pasadena Humane Society is now caring for a tiny Chihuahua after its owner allegedly maltreated the dog inside the South Pasadena Police station about three weeks ago.

The owner, identified later as Christian Andrew Najera, 48, a Los Angeles resident, will be arraigned Tuesday at the Alhambra Superior Court.

Najera was arrested past 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016, minutes after an on-duty police department clerk allegedly heard him yelling at the police station lobby. A South Pasadena Police press release said when the clerk looked into the closed-circuit TV monitor that displayed a live video feed of the lobby, she saw Najera with a small Chihuahua on a leash exiting the lobby.

The release said as the clerk continued to monitor the live feed, she notified a police dispatcher as to what was happening.

“The records clerk then saw the suspect kick the dog several more times and violently swing it in the air by its leash in a circular motion,” the press release continued. “The suspect then left the lobby with the dog while being followed by the records clerk and a police dispatcher.”

Najera was later arrested near Mound Avenue and Mission Street and booked for animal abuse. A check on police records later reportedly revealed the suspect had been arrested several times and had been convicted for violent offenses.

South Pasadena police said the dog had undetermined injuries and is now in the care of the Pasadena Humane Society.