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In a recent development, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office has decided to dismiss the charges against a man accused of abandoning his dog, tied to a fence along Interstate 75, during the onslaught of Hurricane Milton, as revealed by court documents.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, they lacked a “good-faith basis” to pursue the case further. Consequently, on Wednesday, they submitted a “Noelle Prosequi” document, effectively dropping the case and requesting the cancellation of any outstanding warrants.
This case gained significant attention after the dog, later named “Trooper,” was discovered in near waist-deep floodwaters only hours before Hurricane Milton was projected to strike in October 2024. A video shared by state troopers captured the rescue moment near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, sparking a groundswell of public outrage.
The incident became a catalyst for legislative change, leading to the enactment of “Trooper’s Law.” This new legislation categorizes the act of restraining or abandoning a dog during a natural disaster as a third-degree felony. Offenders now face potential penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $10,000.
The incident drew widespread outrage from the community, eventually prompting lawmakers to pass “Trooper’s Law,” making it a third-degree felony to restrain or abandon a dog outside during a natural disaster. Anyone who violates this law could face a five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.
The law officially went into effect on Oct. 1.
Just days after Trooper was found, his owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty. During the initial investigation, court records had said that Garcia’s mother, Mabel Garcia Gomez, 53, stopped their car on I-75 during the family’s evacuation to Georgia from heavy rain, letting the dog out of the vehicle. Garcia said he last saw the dog in standing water and left it behind.
In a statement to 10 Tampa Bay News, a spokesperson for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office acknowledged that the case stirs many emotions and “ethical questions.”
However, the statement also said, in part: “During the deposition and discovery process in this case, we determined that we did not have sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant intentionally tied the dog to the fence in rising flood waters.”
The state attorney’s office added it did not have a “good-faith basis to continue this prosecution,” and there was “insufficient evidence” to support that Trooper was tied to the fence with a rope, despite initial reports.
“As a result, we cannot meet our burden of proving aggravated animal cruelty beyond a reasonable doubt,” the state attorney’s office wrote.
Where is Trooper, the dog, now?
After nearly two months following the incident, Trooper found his forever home.
According to the Leon County Humane Society, as soon as he met his new mom and dad, Frank and Carla, it was a “perfect match.” During their first meeting, Trooper was reportedly immediately at ease.
Previous 10 Tampa Bay News reporting contributed to this article.
