OCFA equipment operator charged with animal cruelty in shooting death and disposal of his dog in fire station dumpster

An Orange County Fire Authority equipment operator has been charged with animal cruelty after fatally shooting his 4-year-old pit bull in the head, then dumping its body at his Irvine fire station dumpster, prosecutors said.

Ryan John Monteleone, 44, of Menifee was arrested by Irvine police on Oct. 17, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday, Nov. 21.

Court records show he was charged on Tuesday, Nov. 19 with a felony count of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of putting a carcass of a dead animal on the road. A Waste Management garbage truck driver found the dog’s body on Aug. 9 in the dumpster of the Fossil Road fire station in Irvine, according to the district attorney’s office.

Monteleone is a sworn member of the department, though he’s not a firefighter, and operates heavy equipment, authorities said. In a July 2016 story in the Orange County Register, Monteleone was described as a bulldozer operator assigned to plowing through flames, brush and trees often during wildfires.

An Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman said Monteleone remains on duty while facing the criminal charges.

“After review, we have concluded that Monteleone can continue to do his duties during this time, and poses no threat to his colleagues or the public,” Colleen Windsor said in an email statement. Windsor said she did not have details about the incident, including why Monteleone would have shot his dog.

An Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman did not immediately return calls seeking comment. When reached for comment, Monteloeone deferred to his lawyer, Rod Pacheco, who was not immediately available to discus his client’s case. 

Court records show has been ordered to appear in court on Dec. 2 to be arraigned at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

If found guilty on the charges, he faces a maximum sentence of three years and six months.

“Animals do not have the ability to call for help when they are being abused, making them especially vulnerable to violence,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.

“The abuse of animals will never be acceptable; this kind of conduct is even more egregious when the abuse is carried out by a public servant whose entire career is devoted to helping others.”