SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - As police ramp up their probe, an Otay Mesa dog owner believes his dog may also have been targeted by a pepper spray-wielding mail carrier.
The owner of 9-year-old Roscoe didn't want identified, but he tells 10news about two months ago - moments after their mail carrier left - Roscoe started to twitch in pain, which lasted minutes. He say Roscoe was behind a gate and not a threat to the postal carrier. Hours later, the dog's eyes were still red. The dog's owner didn't report it, but says another neighbor complained about a similar occurrence. Both of their homes are just blocks from the Galindo home on Agosto Street.
"Makes me feel angry and so sad that he's causing so much pain," said Alfonso Galindo.
Earlier this week, he spoke to 10news about the strange stains on his patio that prompted him to check his surveillance video. He watched the unbelievable unfold: a postal carrier appearing to hold pepper spray under the mail, as he walked by a metal gate. Behind the gate is his 7-year-old rescue Pupa. At the same time, Pupa begins convulsing for minutes.
"Sickening. It's scary how nonchalant he is. He's done this before," said Galindo.
Galindo says he found nine similar incidents in the recordings on his hard drive, about a month's worth. The Postal Service issued an apology, saying the 'appropriate action' will be taken.
"That left me with a question. Is this person going to be retrained and put back on my route? That's not going to cut it," said Galindo.
There are also more questions about the impact on his two young children, who are constantly touching and hugging Pupa. For months, they've suffered mysterious respiratory issues, requiring frequent trips to the hospital. On Wednesday, both were diagnosed with asthma. Galindo says more tests need to be done, but doctors believe the pepper spray could be the cause, and at the minimum, is an aggravating factor.
"I'm scared to find out where this could take my children. What he's doing is criminal," said Galindo.
Galindo says several police detectives have interviewed him and collected evidence. A SDPD spokesperson tells us they are "actively investigating."
