Miami-Dade police have arrested Yurianne "Elvin" Hervis-Gonzalez, 34, and charged him Tuesday with 30 felony counts of animal cruelty in connection with an illegal West Miami-Dade slaughterhouse where pigs were brutally killed -- some via sledgehammer attacks, some with gunshots and others boiled alive. At the time of his arrest Miami-Dade police also charged Hervis-Gonzalez on a separate case of grand-theft auto.
Hervis-Gonzalez is the third man charged in connection to an undercover investigation by the Animal Recovery Mission. The private group had offered a $10,000 reward for Hervis-Gonzalez's capture, and believe they now have one of the most vicious operators of the slaughterhouse now in custody.
See also: Yuppie Rambo Richard "Kudo" Couto takes on the C-9 Basin, Miami-Dade's most lawless outpost
"He was probably the most wanted, most violent animal killers in the United States," Richard Couto, founder of the Animal Recovery Mission, tells the Miami Herald. "He was seen laughing in many of the undercover videos. He certainly took pleasure in what he was doing."
The witnessing of the slaughter of the animals was so violent and inhumane that four of the undercover operators quit after the probe. Here's a video -- be warned, it's not easy to watch:
According to Animal Recovery Mission Herviz-Gonzalez has also been linked to a "prominent operator of animal fighting", and has also been linked to selling illegal horse meat.
The farm is question has had allegations of animal abuse in the past. In 2009 and 2010 a similar investigation showed animals being abused at the location, no arrests were made at the time, but the owners were issued numerous code violations. Following the violations the owners leased the farm to a Raul "Freaky" Fernandez, who apparently continued the practices that have brought these new charges upon the farm.
Fernandez, the suspected chief operator of the slaughterhouse, was arrested in March. Another man, Yonisley "Pipe" Garcia, was arrested shortly thereafter. Riptide has requested the full arrest documents; we'll update this post when they come through.
"No legitimate slaughterhouse operator or any self-respecting farmer would treat his livestock in such a ghastly manner," Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement on the charges.
Both Fernandez and Garcia are awaiting trial.
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