SANFORD, Florida — Sanford Police arrested an HVAC technician after a video allegedly showed him kicking a homeowner’s dog while working inside a Sanford, Florida, residence.

According to a Sanford Police media release, officers were notified of the incident on Aug. 26. The HVAC technician was working inside the resident’s home when he allegedly kicked the homeowner’s dog.

The incident was captured on video by a Furbo dog treat dispenser. The device’s motion-activated video showed the small dog being kicked by the technician. Police said the dog was rendered unconscious for a significant period of time.

The homeowner viewed the video and contacted the Sanford Police Department.

Investigators identified the worker as Richardson Noel, 43, and charged him with aggravated animal cruelty.

“It is deeply disturbing that someone entrusted with entering a person’s home to complete a service would violate that trust by viciously injuring a defenseless animal,” said Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith. “The video is difficult to watch and shows the callousness of this individual.”

WESH 2 Orlando reports that the 12-year-old chihuahua named Boomer suffered internal bruising, but thankfully, no broken bones. WESH 2 Orlando noted that the homeowners were not home during the service call and thought Boomer was secured in another room with their other dog.

Outrage has sparked on social media, with members of the community calling for a boycott of ElDante HVAC Services LLC. The company issued the following statement on its website:

"First and foremost, we offer our deepest and most sincere apologies for the incident involving one of our technicians. As pet parents ourselves, we fully understand the emotional gravity of witnessing a beloved dog being subjected to physical harm. We are truly sorry for the distress and pain this incident has caused.

While the technician has shared that he has had negative experiences with dogs in the past, his actions are absolutely not justified. The behavior he displayed was completely unacceptable and does not reflect the values, standards, principles, or professionalism that we hold our company and our team to.

We have taken this matter extremely seriously. The technician’s employment was terminated immediately after we reviewed the circumstances and the available evidence. Criminal charges have also been pursued, and we are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding this matter.

When we first became aware of the incident, we immediately questioned the technician about what had occurred. In his initial account, he stated that the dog had attempted to bite him twice. After reviewing the recorded evidence later that same day, we determined that his account did not accurately reflect what had occurred. This further confirmed our decision to terminate his employment that same evening.

We also want to emphasize that we have a strict company policy that no technician is permitted to enter a property when unattended pets or minors are present. In this situation, the technician failed to follow our established safety protocol and proceeded on his own rather than contacting his supervisor for guidance. This was a serious violation of our company policy.

We have personally extended our sincerest apologies to the tenants and offered our assistance in any way we can during this difficult time. We sincerely hope their beloved dog makes a full and speedy recovery.

May God watch over their sweet fur baby and bring healing and comfort to their family. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them during this difficult time.

With deepest sincerity and regret, ELDante HVAC Services, LLC."

The incident underscores the importance of hiring, training, and accountability when technicians enter customers’ homes. Homeowners trust service professionals with access to their property, family members, and pets, making professional conduct and respect for that trust essential to protecting both customers and a contractor’s reputation.