A Waukegan man was arrested by deputies after authorities say he stabbed a dog, leaving a house looking like a “murder scene,” after the dog apparently tried protecting a woman during an argument.
Ivan Dominguez, 45, of Waukegan, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, aggravated battery to a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 12:05 a.m. on July 30 to the 9800 block of 16th Street in unincorporated Zion for a report of a 911 hang-up call.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said Dominguez shares the residence with his wife and two children.
An open line to 911 was received by dispatchers who heard a loud commotion, including significant yelling.
Deputies arrived and could hear yelling from inside the house as they approached the front glass door.
A deputy knocked on the front door and observed the inside of the house to look like a murder scene, McConnell said.
There was blood covering the inside of the house on the floors and walls, the dogs and Dominguez’s wife.
McConnell said Dominguez appeared on the porch holding a large knife and was ordered to drop it, which he did before retreating back into the house through the backyard.
Deputies located the kitchen knife, which had at least a six-inch blade with blood on it.
Deputies were able to get the wife out of the house and she reported that the blood was from her dog after Dominguez stabbed the animal during an altercation, McConnell said.
Dominguez came back to the porch and was taken into custody while his wife attempted to treat the dog.
Dominguez was “incredibly intoxicated” and had a pill bottle on his person that contained a white powdery substance that later field tested positive for cocaine, McConnell said. Medical staff later noted he appeared to be on stimulants in addition to alcohol.
The dog was observed to have an “extremely significant puncture” wound to her back that was two to three inches in size, McConnell said.
The wound was actively gushing blood all over and deputies saw the dog shaking in an attempt to dry herself, causing blood to splatter onto the walls.
A girl was helping the mother treat the dog and arrange for another family to come and assist in taking it to the veterinarian.
None of the people at the scene had any visible injuries, McConnell said. The wife told deputies that she and Dominguez were in a verbal argument when Dominguez charged at her aggressively.
Her dog intervened and Dominguez stabbed the dog, McConnell said. The woman said that Dominguez did not touch her but came close to doing so when her dog got in the way.
Dominguez complained of a lump on his head and was transported to the hospital where he was aggressive and belligerent with officers, McConnell said.
He made threats like, “I will find you, just wait until I get out,” and “take my handcuffs off and let’s go outside,” McConnell said.
McConnell said Dominguez attempted to throw urine at a deputy and then kicked him in the leg.
Dominguez later spoke with deputies and admitted to stabbing his wife’s dog but claimed he did so because the dog attacked his daughter, which there was no evidence of, McConnell said.
The sheriff’s office has been frequently called to the home for domestic disturbances over the years.
Dominguez has prior convictions for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and aggravated battery of a peace officer and has been arrested 11 times for driving while license suspended or revoked.
Dominguez was transported to the Lake County Jail and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
Defense attorney Jed Stone argued extensively for his client’s release during a detention hearing, saying that Dominguez was protecting himself when he stabbed the dog because it was being aggressive.
His wife also provided an affidavit attesting to it and evidence was also provided that the dog had bitten Dominguez and a child recently.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the petition following a detention hearing and released Dominguez on pre-trial conditions.
The judge said that he was not convinced that prosecutors met their burden that the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals was committed.
Nerheim placed Dominguez on Level 4 pre-trial services, placed him on a curfew and ordered him to obtain a substance abuse evaluation, in addition to not consuming alcohol or drugs.
Dominguez was also ordered not to have contact with the family’s two dogs.