Campus police arrested two ºÙºÙÊÓƵ undergraduate students April 21 on charges of animal cruelty. Henry Nguyen, 18, of Oakland and Josue Melendez, 19, of Los Angeles County were arrested on two charges each of animal cruelty, a felony, and two charges each of conspiracy, a felony.
The suspects allegedly battered and used a cigarette lighter to torture two hamsters. One of the hamsters died and the other recovered after being rescued and treated at the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
The suspects allegedly made videos of the incidents and posted one video on Facebook, resulting in an investigation. They were living in ºÙºÙÊÓƵ residence halls at the time of the alleged incidents.
Media Resources
Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu
Capt. Joyce Souza, ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Police Department, (530) 752-6864, jxsouza@ucdavis.edu