Florida Postal Worker Arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges After Video Shows Dogs Pepper-Sprayed
LAUDERHILL, Fla. — A U.S. Postal Service carrier was arrested Wednesday on animal cruelty charges after a local television station broadcast surveillance video that appears to show him pepper-spraying three small dogs at a residential mailbox earlier this month.
Sian Andre Spence, 47, was taken into custody by Lauderhill police and booked into Broward County jail on three felony counts of animal cruelty, according to arrest records. He is being held on a $3,500 bond. It is not yet known if he has entered a plea or secured legal representation.
The arrest came just two days after WPLG Local 10 aired the footage, which police used to identify Spence as the suspect. The video, dated Jan. 2, shows a postal worker allegedly deploying pepper spray toward three Shih Tzu-poodle mix dogs owned by resident Bianca Green before approaching the mailbox.
In an interview, Green disputed the mail carrier's claim that the dogs attempted to bite him. "They can’t do anything other than bark," she told Local 10, describing how her pets reacted by "digging their face in the dirt" after being sprayed. She expressed relief at the swift arrest, stating, "I didn’t expect it to happen like this and so quickly."
The United States Postal Service confirmed Spence, a five-year employee, is currently under internal review pending the investigation. His employment status following the arrest remains unclear.
Animal cruelty cases involving public service employees often prompt broader discussions about safety protocols and conflict de-escalation. While postal workers do face legitimate threats from aggressive animals—the USPS reported over 5,300 dog attacks on employees in 2022—the use of force must be proportionate and documented.
Community Reaction:
"As a dog owner in the same neighborhood, this is horrifying but not entirely surprising," said Michael Torres, 52, a local teacher. "We've had issues with mail carriers being impatient, but this crosses a line. There are established procedures for reporting threatening animals."
"This is a gross overreaction," offered David Chen, 41, a postal union representative from a neighboring district. "Carriers deal with uncontrolled dogs daily, and their safety matters. However, pepper spray should be an absolute last resort. This incident will unfortunately paint all carriers in a bad light."
"I'm furious. This is torture of defenseless pets," said Rebecca Shaw, 38, an animal shelter volunteer, her voice sharp with anger. "He sprayed them before he was even threatened? That's premeditated. A $3,500 bond is a joke. He should lose his job and face the maximum penalty."
"It's a sad situation all around," added Patricia Wells, 67, a retired nurse. "The dogs were probably just barking. Was there no way to just skip that house that day and report it? Now a man's career is likely over, and a family is traumatized."
PEOPLE's requests for comment from Lauderhill Police and the USPS on Thursday were not immediately returned.