SHERMAN OAKS – A man from Sherman Oaks pled not guilty on March 20 for killing a dog with his car back in December 2013.
Michael David Parker, 45, was charged with one felony count each of cruelty to an animal with a special allegation of using his vehicle as a deadly weapon and animal neglect, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of petty theft for having stolen the dog.
Sarah Ardalani of the District Attorney’s Office told Canyon News that Parker pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 25, and he is scheduled to appear for a pre-preliminary hearing on April 25.
The charges stem from a December 28, 2013 incident where Parker was caught on surveillance video killing a 5 and a half year-old Chihuahua named Cow Cow in an alley in the area of El Segundo oulevard and Doty Avenue, according to the Hawthorne Police Department. The video showed Parker exit the vehicle; open his trunk before closing it and then getting back into his vehicle.
The dog appeared around the side of the car just moments later before walking in front of it. Parker then backed up his vehicle before accelerating straight into the dog and running it over, leaving it to die. He left the scene, and a nearby resident later placed the body of Cow Cow in a bag that was found by Hawthorne Police and Animal Control officers on January 2, 2014.
Parker was arrested at his place of business and booked by Hawthorne police on January 3, 2014. He posted bond that same day to the tune of $20,000.
