Kingsburg MMA fighter arrested for alleged animal cruelty

Kingsburg police arrested a 35-year-old man early Sunday morning for allegedly beating his puppy viciously.

Police say that Fidel Manzano Jr. arrived home intoxicated around 2 a.m. and started to beat his 15 pound, 7-12-month-old dog named Chokaly after it was crying and making noise. Manzano repeatedly threw the dog several times into a washing machine located in a garage. The beating occurred for about two hours until the animal stopped crying.

Manzano is an MMA fighter and family members were afraid to report the beating at the time due to his intoxication and fear of Manzano turning his aggression on them.

After officers investigated and Manzano was arrested, the family took the puppy to a veterinarian for care. The animal suffered a broken jaw, severe soft tissue damage to the hind legs, numerous contusions and abrasions, and a swollen brain.

Manzano was booked into the Fresno County Jail for cruelty to animals, a felony.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 11:18 PM with the headline "Kingsburg MMA fighter arrested for alleged animal cruelty."