Florida HVAC Technician Arrested for Kicking Customer's Dog

A heating and air conditioning technician was arrested in Florida and charged with aggravated animal cruelty after a motion-activated camera captured him kicking a customer’s small dog inside a residence, police said.

Sanford Police identified the worker as 43-year-old Richardson Noel. According to investigators, the kick rendered the animal unconscious for “a significant period of time.”

The incident occurred on Aug. 26, when Noel was working inside the home in Sanford. A Furbo dog treat dispenser, which functions as a motion-activated camera, recorded Noel entering through a sliding glass door as the pet barked at him.

The footage showed Noel closing the door and kicking the small dog, before periodically nudging the unconscious animal with his foot, police say.

The homeowner witnessed the incident on the video stream and immediately contacted police, leading to Noel’s arrest.

“It is deeply disturbing that someone entrusted with entering a person’s home to complete a service would violate that trust by viciously injuring a defenseless animal,” Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. “The video is difficult to watch and shows the callousness of this individual.”

Smith's response drew support from residents online.

“Thank you Chief Smith for taking this serious,” Facebook user Julie Hawkins Murphy commented on the police department’s announcement of Noel’s arrest. “This is horrific to watch. Your team took swift action and sent a strong message to the animal abusers that unfortunately reside in our community.”

The injured pet survived the assault and the Sanford Police Department told NBC affiliate WFLA on Thursday that the animal was receiving medical attention.

While overwhelmingly condemning the technician’s actions, some social media users also debated pet owner responsibility during home services.

“The owner should have put the dog up, she knew someone was coming to her home to work on her AC,” Neicy Badger wrote on Facebook. “No it doesn’t give him the right to do that to their dog. But the owner share some responsibility in this also.”

User Gigi Martin similarly noted that “both this man and the owner are accountable.”

“Whatever his aggravation was, it should have never escalated to this,” Martin wrote. “Folks. You love your pets, stop assuming everyone else thinks they are cute and cuddly… take the necessary precautions.”