A Beach Park man is facing numerous felony charges after, police say, he took the mother of their child hostage at knifepoint after having bludgeoned the woman’s dog to death.
Adrian Rivera, 40, of the 10400 block of West Crissy Avenue, was arrested after Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies performed what they called a “high risk” traffic stop to stop Rivera’s vehicle with the woman and their child inside.
The sheriff’s office said the incident began Sunday at around 8:45 a.m. when Rivera battered the woman at their Beach Park residence before arming himself with a knife. He then forced the woman into a car before driving to a Wadsworth address where their young child was staying so the child could be kept away from Rivera, police said.
When they arrived at the Wadsworth address, the woman told relatives of the situation. They in turn called 911 and relayed information that allowed them to locate and stop the vehicle, police said.
Police said they learned that Rivera had recently bludgeoned the woman’s dog to death. They found the pet’s remains in a cooler at the Beach Park residence, along with two firearms.
Rivera is facing weapons charges, as well as aggravated domestic battery, animal cruelty and child endangerment, authorities said.
“Our 911 emergency telecommunicators were able to obtain very important information and relay the information at lightning speed, allowing our deputies to locate and rescue the kidnapping victims,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “If it were not for the high level of skill and collaboration between our 911 center and responding deputies, this violent man may have done more serious harm to the victims.”
