In April 2025, a grainy piece of surveillance footage from a Long Beach alleyway did more than just capture a crime; it ignited a firestorm across Southern California. The video was brutal. It showed a man, later identified by authorities as 28-year-old Alexander Cueva, violently abusing a young German Shepherd mix.
People were rightfully livid. Honestly, the details are hard to stomach, but they matter because they led to a rare moment of swift, decisive legal action in an animal cruelty case.
The Incident that Shook Long Beach
It happened around 5:50 a.m. on April 21, 2025. The location was an alley near 12th Street and Long Beach Boulevard. A neighbor's security camera caught Cueva, a Westminster resident who often visited his mother in the area, engaging in what District Attorney Nathan Hochman described as "calculated violence."
The footage showed Cueva hoisting the puppy—then known as Inara—into the air by her neck using a leash. He didn't just pull her; he swung the 6-to-8-month-old dog over his shoulder and slammed her into the pavement. While the dog lay motionless, he kicked her in the face. Then, he hopped on a skateboard and rode away, dragging the animal out of the frame.
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It's the kind of thing you hope someone sees. Fortunately, someone did.
How Alexander Cueva Was Caught
The arrest wasn't just luck. It was a mix of community surveillance and a hefty incentive. After the video surfaced on Nextdoor and went viral, PETA stepped in with a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
One neighbor, who had seen Cueva whistling to be let into a nearby apartment complex, took a photo of him and the dog the next time he showed up. She sent that photo to the Long Beach Police Department. Detectives from the Special Investigations Division tracked him down to the 800 block of Pine Avenue on April 22.
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Interestingly, when Cueva was picked up, he wasn't exactly a first-time offender. He was actually out on probation for a vehicle theft in Pomona from June 2023. He also had an outstanding "No Bail" warrant from a 2021 case in Orange County where he'd failed to appear in court. Basically, he was already on the radar, but this incident put him behind bars for good.
The Legal Fallout and Sentencing
Cueva initially pleaded not guilty on April 29, but that didn't last long. On May 7, 2025, he pleaded no contest to one felony count of animal cruelty.
The court didn't go easy on him. Judge Kelly Fritz sentenced Alexander Cueva to three years in state prison. This sentence was set to run after he finished a 16-month stint for his previous vehicle theft.
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Perhaps the most significant part of the ruling for the community was the 10-year ban. Cueva is legally prohibited from owning or possessing any animal for a decade. It's a "message" sentence—the DA wanted to make it clear that this level of "inexcusable criminal behavior" carries a real price in LA County.
Where is the Dog Now?
There is a silver lining. The puppy, which was originally called Inara, was rescued by Long Beach Animal Care Services.
She was renamed Rue. Despite the trauma, Rue's recovery has been described as nothing short of miraculous. By mid-May 2025, photos showed her thriving in a foster home. She's energetic, responsive, and—according to her foster family—incredibly intelligent. She’s healing from the physical injuries, though she's still a bit nervous around new people, which makes total sense given what she went through.
Actionable Insights for the Community
This case changed the way many people in Long Beach view local surveillance and animal welfare. If you’re ever in a position where you witness or suspect abuse, there are specific steps that actually work, as seen in this case:
- Document safely: The neighbor who caught the video was initially hesitant due to personal status concerns, but that footage was the "smoking gun." If you have a doorbell cam or alleyway security, check it if you hear distress.
- Know who to call: Don't just post to social media. In Long Beach, you contact Animal Care Services at (562) 570-7387 or the LBPD dispatch.
- Look for patterns: The tipster who led to the arrest didn't just see the video; she recognized Cueva from his daily routine.
The story of Alexander Cueva in Long Beach serves as a grim reminder of why animal cruelty laws exist, but also as a testament to a community that refused to look the other way. Rue is safe, and the legal system, for once, moved fast.