Alleged Napa Dog Killer Now On Paid Leave From Fire Department

NAPA - A Napa man accused of killing his dog worked as a firefighter in Silicon Valley, and is now on paid administrative leave, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

31-year-old Nicholas Joseph Luiz, a firefighter with the Santa Clara Fire Department, was arrested December 30 and booked on suspicion of felony animal cruelty.

See: Police Arrest Napa Man Suspected Of Killing His Dog

The newspaper says Santa Clara Fire Chief Bill Kelly placed Luiz on paid administrative leave and that an internal investigation has started.

“It was disturbing when I heard this news,” Kelly told the paper. “We are taking this very seriously.”

Napa Police Department say they responded to the 1100 block of Massa Drive for a report of animal cruelty shortly before 11:45 p.m. on December 29. According to police, witnesses reported that Luiz had been abusing his dog, a five month old German Shepherd for the last several months.

Police say Luiz had been seen abusing the dog in the back yard and the dog was believed to be deceased. Officers knocked on the door and received no answer at the door.

On December 30 at about 8:30 a.m., the Napa Police Department Investigations Unit returned to the residence with a search warrant. The dog was found deceased at the residence.

Napa Police say Luiz admitted to killing his dog. He was arrested and booked at the Napa County Department of Corrections.

If you have any information related to this case, you’re asked to call Investigator Andy Hess at 707-257-9507.