HANH MINH NGUYEN caught on video luring her puppy under her minivan before running him over
- California, USA -
The Santa Ana Police Department announced the arrest of 75-year-old HANH MINH NGUYEN (pictured).
On September 8, 2026, SAPD Animal Services responded to the area of 900 W. Park Lane in reference to a deceased dog. In their press release, police described the dog as a black-and-white male Pitbull mix and said he appeared to have been run over.
Police said that a nearby resident reported seeing a minivan parked near the location and believed the female driver had intentionally run over the puppy.
In the weeks that followed, Animal Services and officers canvassed the area for surveillance video and were eventually able to locate footage that corroborated the resident’s report.
Surveillance video from a nearby residence showed a woman arrive in an older-model blue or green Honda Odyssey with a roof rack and park in front of 926 W. Park Lane. The woman took the puppy from the minivan, placed him under the vehicle, put dog food near the driver’s door, and slowly drove forward as the puppy approached the food. According to the press release issued by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the female driver then crushed “the puppy’s head with the minivan’s rear tire before driving away.” Police said the vehicle remained on top of the puppy for approximately 15 seconds before the woman drove away northbound on Lowell Street.
The video did not capture a readable license plate, so police subsequently reached out to the public for help identifying the woman and the vehicle.
On their Facebook page, police also shared the graphic video of the incident.
In a subsequent Facebook post, police advised that, using Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, detectives identified the suspected vehicle, which led them to an address associated with NGUYEN in Anaheim. Detectives found the minivan parked inside the garage.
According to police, NGUYEN admitted to “owning and abandoning” the puppy, named Blackey.
Santa Ana Police PIO Natalie Garcia said that NGUYEN’s boyfriend was annoyed with Blackey for chewing his shoes, so NGUYEN decided to abandon him at a park. According to Garcia, NGUYEN told her boyfriend that Blackey had been run over but did not tell him that she was the person who had run him over. Garcia said the boyfriend was therefore surprised when NGUYEN was arrested.
Garcia also said that NGUYEN did not admit to intentionally running over Blackey.
NGUYEN was arrested on October 1, 2026, and booked into the Santa Ana Jail.
According to the press release issued by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, NGUYEN was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, one felony count of animal abuse by a caretaker, and one felony enhancement for the personal use of a vehicle as a weapon to kill the animal.
NGUYEN was released from custody after posting $20,000 bail. She is scheduled to appear at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana on November 2, 2026.
Police said that Blackey sadly succumbed to his injuries and that his remains were secured.
In a written statement, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said:
“This act of violence not only ended the life of an innocent puppy, but it also inflicted trauma on every single person who came across the video footage of the murder of an animal. Violence is not a singular act. It inflicts pain and suffering on those who are subjected to it and on those who witness it. As the elected District Attorney of Orange County, I refuse to accept a society in which violence of any kind is acceptable, and those who engage in violence, whether it is against human beings or animals, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
###
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is based on the press release issued by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.
In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.
Mugshot shared from the Santa Ana Police Department.
For more animal cruelty stories, please click here. Thank you!
Comments