Naples man accused of aggravated animal cruelty following investigation into dog's death

NAPLES, Fla. —

A man is accused of aggravated animal cruelty following an investigation into a dog's death, the Naples Police Department said Friday.

According to a press release, officers were initially dispatched to the 1500 block of Curlew Avenue back in November following a 911 call from a neighbor reporting that a dog had fallen from a second-story porch and was not moving. The dog, 11-week-old Dixie, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Officers say that the dog's owner, 24-year-old Xavier Reda, initially told them that Dixie ran out the back door of his apartment, slipped through one of the openings of the stairwell and fell from the second floor to her death.

Dixie was transported to a veterinarian, who officers say noted several injuries not consistent with a fall from a great height, but rather blunt force trauma. Dixie had:

• An acute left rib fracture with lung punctures
• A healed rib fracture
• Bruises
• Hemorrhaging in the skull

A police report states that Reda lives with his girlfriend and roommate, who both became suspicious as to how Dixie died. The report adds that the roommate told Reda's girlfriend that they heard him choking Dixie and then later saying that he wished he never got a dog.

The roommate reportedly told officers that they could hear Dixie whimpering loudly on the day of the incident and that Reda entered their room with the dog, who was limp and covered in blood. Officers say the roommate told them that Reda kept stating that "it was an accident" and that Dixie had fallen between the railings of the stairway.

NPD says that several witnesses observed Reda telling people that he was sick of the dog and that he wanted to kill the dog. A witness to the incident reportedly told officers that they saw no blood where Reda claims Dixie fell; however, they saw blood in Reda's apartment.

A warrant was put out for Reda's arrest Tuesday, and he was arrested by the NPD Thursday.

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