A Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted Sean Booth Chidester, 35, of Marathon, about 7 p.m. Tuesday in a vehicle on U.S. 1 near 126th Street in Marathon.
The trooper stopped the vehicle and detained Chidester via the warrant regarding the animal cruelty case stated below. The trooper notified the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Chidester was transferred to MCSO custody without incident.
Chidester was taken to jail.
Man sought in animal cruelty case
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a man accused of picking up a small dog over his head and slamming it into the ground, breaking the dog’s pelvis.
Sheriff’s Office deputies say Sean Booth Chidester, 35, of Marathon, is a convicted felon who may be armed and dangerous. The Sheriff’s Office has reason to believe Chidester may have an illegally-owned handgun. Always Call 911 instead of approaching a suspect in any criminal case.
Deputies were called to a veterinary hospital at 9:15 a.m. where a woman was getting her miniature pinscher, “Penny,” checked for injuries. The woman told staff the dog was unable to stand on its hind legs and was shaking a lot. Deputies met with the woman who stated she got into an altercation the previous night with Chidester. That altercation remains under investigation.
The woman went on to say that Chidester picked up Penny above his head with arms fully extended and slammed the dog to the ground from the top of a set of stairs. The woman estimated the dog fell about 10 feet in total.
X-rays of the dog were taken. The veterinarian stated there were multiple fractures of the dog’s pelvis. The vet added the dog may have suffered long-term nerve damage. The vet added the dog may be unable to urinate on its own and may require a catheter.
Chidester may be in the Marathon area. He may be riding a 2006, orange and blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a 6681RU tag. He may be driving a black, 1996 Chevrolet Jimmy sport-utility vehicle with the words, “Outlaw Diesel” across the top windshield with a 3543UW tag.
Chidester has an arrest history spanning more than 15 years in three states, including Monroe County, Florida. His last arrest in Monroe County came in 2016 when he was charged with aggravated battery in which he knew or should have known the victim was pregnant.