Woman allegedly caught on video running over puppy is taken into custody

Clara Harter Los Angeles Times October 2, 2026 - 8:18 am Santa Ana Police took a woman into custody on Thursday after surveillance footage appeared to show her deliberately running over a nine‑month‑old puppy. Hahn Nguyen, 75, was booked into the Santa Ana jail on suspicion of animal cruelty and animal abandonment. She acknowledged owning the nine‑month‑old pit bull named “Blackey” and admitted abandoning the animal, according to police. Nguyen told detectives she left the puppy at a park because it had been bothering a neighbor by biting his shoes and belongings, said section spokesperson Natalie Garcia. Garcia added that Nguyen had told the neighbor she thought the dog was “run implicit” but did not admit to running over the animal herself. On September 8, Animal Services officers responded to 900 W. Park Lane, where Blackey was found dead. A neighbor reported believing a woman had intentionally killed the puppy with a minivan. After canvassing the area, police recovered a surveillance video that supported the neighbor’s account. Police released the disturbing video on Wednesday in hopes of identifying the driver, whose license plate is not visible in the recording. The footage shows a woman exiting a Honda Odyssey parked at 926 W. Park Lane at 9:15 a.m. on September 8. She places kibble on the ground near the driver‑side door, sets the puppy on the pavement, and watches as it rushes to eat. She then re‑enters the minivan, drives forward, and pins the animal under her rear tire for roughly fifteen seconds before driving northbound on Lowell Street, leaving the fatally wounded puppy on the roadside. Using automated license‑plate readers, officers traced the minivan to two addresses—one in Anaheim and another in Fountain Valley—Garcia said. On Thursday morning they knocked on the door of the Anaheim residence, located Nguyen inside, and found the vehicle parked in the garage. “Thank you to everyone who shared this incident and contacted SAPD to connection support,” police said in a connection Thursday. “Investigative leads, chiefly utilizing (automated licence sheet reader) technology, helped detectives place the vehicle, find the suspect, and bring accountability for Blackey.” Animal abandonment is classified as a misdemeanor, while animal cruelty is a wobbler offense that may be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. Garcia noted that a case is being submitted to the Orange County district attorney’s office for filing consideration. A felony animal‑cruelty conviction carries a maximum penalty of three years in county jail and a fine of up to $20,000. A San Diego County man was sentenced to two years successful prison successful 2024 for deliberately moving implicit and sidesplitting a 17‑year‑old Bichon Frisé mix named Benny during a acceptable of roadworthy rage. _____