Anaheim woman charged federally for running over puppy in Santa Ana

Hanh Minh Nguyen, a 75-year-old Anaheim resident, was charged on Thursday with a federal felony for animal crushing. The Department of Justice announced the filing roughly one month after her initial arrest by the Santa Ana Police Department.

The federal charge stems from an incident on September 8, when investigators say Nguyen entered a Santa Ana neighborhood in a Honda Odyssey. She allegedly removed a nine-month-old pit bull mix named Blackey from the vehicle and placed him underneath the car. To lure the animal out, she scattered dog food near the driver's side door. As the puppy approached the food, Nguyen reportedly drove forward slowly, intentionally running the dog over and subjecting it to extreme physical pain and death.

The prosecution relies on the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, a federal law signed by President Donald Trump in 2019. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described the method as an act of atrocious cruelty. The DOJ stated that Nguyen will appear for her initial hearing in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana within the next few weeks.

Forensic evidence supports the charges. An autopsy revealed that the puppy died from a crushed skull, which caused total brain damage. The Department of Justice noted that the animal remained alive for several minutes following the traumatic incident, suffering intense pain before dying.

Nguyen also faces local charges in Orange County. She is accused of misdemeanor animal cruelty and abandonment. Santa Ana police identified her vehicle using automated license plate reader technology. When officers went to her home, she admitted to owning the dog and leaving it behind.

The Santa Ana Police Department credited ALPR technology for helping detectives identify the vehicle and locate the suspect. This tool allowed investigators to hold Nguyen accountable for what happened to Blackey.