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CRIME

Driver of stolen van that hit dog during Los Angeles police chase gets 2 years in prison

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this photo provided by ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals, veterinarian Dr. Annie Lo examines Gordo, the dog struck and injured by a van fleeing from police, the day after surgery on his injured hind leg at City Of Angels Veterinary Specialty Center in Culver City, Calif., Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. Hospital spokeswoman Shannon Brown says Gordo is doing well and resting comfortably since his surgery Thursday afternoon. The driver of the stolen van that struck the dog during the wild, televised police chase, 21-year-old Yovani Rodriguez, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, fleeing police while driving recklessly and hit-and-run. (AP Photo/ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals) (The Associated Press)

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    This photo provided by ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals, shows Gordo, the dog struck and injured by a van fleeing from police, the day after surgery on his injured hind leg at City Of Angels Veterinary Specialty Center in Culver City, Calif., Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. Hospital spokeswoman Shannon Brown says Gordo is doing well and resting comfortably since his surgery Thursday afternoon. The driver of the stolen van that struck the dog during the wild, televised police chase, 21-year-old Yovani Rodriguez, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, fleeing police while driving recklessly and hit-and-run. (AP Photo/ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospitals) (The Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES – The driver of a stolen van that hit and badly injured a dog during a wild, televised police chase in Los Angeles has been sentenced to two years in state prison.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say 21-year-old Yovani Rodriguez was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to taking a vehicle without consent, fleeing police while driving recklessly and hit-and-run.

Rodriguez was arrested Wednesday night after a chase that lasted more than an hour. His woman passenger was detained but not charged.

During the pursuit, the van struck Gordo, a young Maltese mix that ran into the street.

The fluffy white dog received a deep gash to his back leg and a crushed hip. Vets trying to save his leg removed part of his hip joint on Thursday and repaired other damage.
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