PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WPEC) — A man is behind bars after the dog he adopted was found decapitated and floating in the mangroves, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office says.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Domingo Rodriguez adopted Dexter, a 4-year-old bulldog mix, from the Pinellas County Animal Services on May 10.

Four days later deputies responded to the area of East Beach at Fort DeSoto Park after reports came in about a deceased dog that was wrapped in a plastic bag.

Deputies were able to scan the dog for a microchip which identified the dog as Dexter who was adopted by Rodriguez.

The sheriff's office says deputies spoke with Rodriguez who admitted to adopting Dexter, but claimed he "must have run away overnight on May 10th." He told deputies he traveled to Fort DeSoto Park on May 11 and gave deputies several inconsistent statements.

Rodriguez is currently in Pinellas County Jail and faces counts of animal cruelty and disposal of bodies of dead animals.

Deputies say the investigation is ongoing.

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