Los Angeles authorities Tuesday charged a man who is accused of burglarizing his ex-roommate’s apartment and killing his dog in West Hollywood.
Anmol Bhatia, 27, was charged with one felony count each of animal cruelty, first-degree residential burglary and vandalism with $400 or more in damage or destruction of property, along with an allegation that the victim in the burglary charge was at least 65 years old — a fact the defendant knew or should have known, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
He is set to be arraigned Wednesday at the Airport courthouse, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Bhatia was arrested at about 8 p.m. Sunday and has remained in custody since then, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department online inmate records.
He had been described as a person of interest by investigators, who had disseminated home security video of a suspect believed to be Bhatia entering the home on Harper Avenue near Santa Monica Boulevard on Thursday, Sept. 4 before midnight.
Home security video footage showed the suspect entering the home with a blue scarf over his face.
The man then abused the victim’s small dog until it became unresponsive, according to the sheriff’s department. The burglary victim later found the deceased dog when he returned home.
Bhatia’s name and image were shared with the public by investigators.
“Deputy personnel contacted the victim, who informed them the residence was burglarized, and his pet dog was deceased,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. “The victim reviewed and showed deputies video surveillance from inside the residence.”
Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to call detectives at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station at 310-855-8850.