A Florida mail carrier, 47-year-old Sian Andre Spence, was arrested Jan. 28 on three counts of animal cruelty after WPLG Local 10 aired surveillance video that allegedly shows him pepper-spraying three Shih Tzu–poodles during a Jan. 2 mail delivery. He is being held on $3,500 bond. The dogs' owner, Bianca Green, disputed the carrier's claim that the dogs tried to bite and said the arrest has brought her relief. The USPS says Spence's employment status is pending an internal review.
Video Leads to Arrest: Florida Mail Carrier Charged With Pepper-Spraying Three Dogs
Sian Andre SpenceBroward County Sheriff's Office
A Florida mail carrier was arrested after local news footage allegedly showed him spraying three small dogs with pepper spray while delivering mail.
What Happened
Lauderhill police took 47-year-old Sian Andre Spence into custody on Wednesday, Jan. 28. According to Broward County Sheriff's Office arrest records reviewed by PEOPLE, he was booked on three counts of animal cruelty and is being held on a $3,500 bond. The alleged incident occurred during a mail delivery on Jan. 2.
Video And Allegations
WPLG Local 10 aired surveillance footage that reportedly shows Spence spraying three Shih Tzu–poodle dogs owned by Bianca Green. Local 10 broadcast the footage two days before the arrest. Media reports and the footage describe the act as pepper-spraying, but criminal charges remain pending and Spence is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sian Andre Spence was caught on video allegedly pepper-spraying three dogs while making a mail delivery.WPLG Local 10/YouTube
Owner's Account
Bianca Green told Local 10 the carrier claimed her dogs tried to bite him, a version she disputed. She described the dogs as very small and said they were only capable of barking. Green said the worker sprayed them before reaching the mailbox and the dogs reacted by "digging their face in the dirt."
"I didn’t expect [the arrest] to happen like this and so quickly," Green told Local 10, adding the arrest brought her relief.
USPS And Investigations
The United States Postal Service confirmed Spence has been employed there for five years and said his "current employment status is pending an internal review," according to Local 10. It was unclear whether he has been suspended or terminated following the arrest. PEOPLE reported attempts to reach Lauderhill police and the USPS for additional comment did not immediately produce responses.
Note: All allegations are based on media reports and the surveillance footage; legal proceedings and internal reviews are ongoing.
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