A former Bartow police officer, 22-year-old Edwin Campuzano, surrendered on Jan. 16 after an arrest warrant followed a December 2025 complaint accusing him of poisoning his ex-girlfriend Paula Fernandez’s Maltese poodle, Milo. Fernandez paid for a necropsy that reportedly found Milo bled to death from rodenticide; photos of pellets from the dog’s bowl and an alleged Tractor Supply purchase on Campuzano’s card are cited by investigators. Campuzano has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and is no longer employed by the Bartow Police Department. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and the allegations are pending in court.
Former Florida Officer Surrenders After Alleged Poisoning Of Ex-Girlfriend’s Maltese Poodle
Hillsborough County Sheriff's OfficeThree-year-old Maltese Poodle, Milo
A former Florida police officer has turned himself in after authorities say he fatally poisoned his ex-girlfriend’s three-year-old Maltese poodle while she was on vacation.
Arrest And Allegations
On Jan. 16, 2026, 22-year-old Edwin Campuzano surrendered to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) after an arrest warrant was issued following a complaint filed in December 2025. Campuzano has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with the May 30, 2025 death of Paula Fernandez’s dog, Milo.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's OfficeEdwin Campuzano
How The Case Unfolded
Fernandez said she was notified by a neighbor that Milo had died while she and her family were away on vacation. Concerned by what she found at home — including blood by the door and signs the dog had been vomiting — she asked a veterinarian to perform a necropsy. The necropsy reportedly revealed that Milo bled to death after ingesting poison.
Fernandez photographed small pellets left in Milo’s food bowl; law enforcement says those pellets were consistent with rodenticide. She also obtained a copy of what she says is Campuzano’s credit card activity showing a purchase from Tractor Supply two days before Milo was found dead. Authorities say those details formed the basis for the arrest warrant.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's OfficeSheriff Chad Chronister and Paula Fernandez
Reaction And Official Statements
Sheriff Chad Chronister described the alleged act as both "premeditated" and "cruel," noting the particular betrayal involved when a sworn officer is accused of harming an animal entrusted to someone he knew. He called it a senseless loss.
Fernandez told reporters she had previously seen Campuzano as a loving partner and was shocked by the allegation. She said Campuzano bought flowers for her family after Milo’s death, a gesture she later viewed as deeply painful given the accusations.
Employment And Next Steps
At the time of the incident, Campuzano worked as a full-time officer with the Bartow Police Department; the HCSO said he is no longer employed there. Campuzano faces criminal charges and the matter is pending in the courts. The HCSO did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Note: All allegations remain unproven in court. The reporting relies on statements from Fernandez, the HCSO, and findings from a veterinarian-conducted necropsy.
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