East Texas man held hostage after killing dog

MINEOLA – A Mineola man was arrested on Thursday after allegedly forcing another man to dig a grave for his dog at gunpoint. According to our news partner KETK, a resident reported that they were driving home on Sept. 8 when they hit a dark-colored animal in the road. The driver stopped to fix their bumper when a silver Ford pick-up truck pulled in behind his vehicle.

The victim reported that the driver of the silver Ford got out of his truck and pointed a gun at him, saying, “I should shoot you now for it.” The victim then pleaded for his life by explaining that he had a family, but the driver, who was identified as Hernandez, commanded the victim to search for his dog.

The victim said he then found the dog in a nearby ditch and was forced to carry the dead animal to Hernandez’s property. Hernandez, who was still pointing the gun at the victim, then demanded that he dig a grave for the dog and bury it, an arrest affidavit showed.

While digging the dog’s grave with a shovel, the victim reported that Hernandez demanded his phone and keys. Once he gave up his phone and keys, Hernandez allegedly went inside his home and came back out with an AR-style rifle with attached optics and magazines.

After the dog was buried, the victim told the Mineola Police Department that Hernandez forced him to drive to a local bank to pay him for the dog. They got in the silver Ford, and the victim drove to the bank, while Hernandez continued holding the rifle, according to his arrest affidavit.

The victim stated that Hernandez took a photo of his driver’s license and told him he knew where he lived if he didn’t compensate him for the dog. In Hernandez’s affidavit, the victim states that he took out $200 from the ATM and gave the money to Hernandez before they drove back to his vehicle.

On Sept. 19, the victim identified Hernandez from a photo line-up. On the same day, officials secured video from the bank showing the victim handing money to his passenger, who was holding a gun at the time.

Hernandez was then arrested by Mineola PD on Thursday for a charge of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, five counts of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance less than one gram, delivery of marijuana and possession of a dangerous drug.

He’s currently being held in the Wood County Jail on a total bond of $660,000.