Owner of Broc’s Puppies arrested

By Kathryn Reed

Police descended upon Broc’s Puppies this morning, arresting four South Lake Tahoe men and taking two dogs.

The arrests had nothing to do with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office’s ongoing investigation into the South Lake Tahoe store on allegations it sells sick puppies from illegal puppy mills.

Detective Matt Harwood searches a Broc's Puppies' van Jan. 8 Photo/Taylor Flynn/Tahoe Mountain News

However, the owner of the store, David Franks, is one of the people in custody. He was arrested by El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies on a probation violation out of Nevada. Why he is on probation and what the violation was are not known.

Also arrested Jan. 8 were South Lake Tahoe residents: Octavio Trejo, 29, on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and bringing a controlled substance into jail; Andres de la Torre, 26, on a parole violation and possession of a hypodermic needle; and James Rogan, 46, on felony and misdemeanor warrants out of San Bernardino County.

The dogs taken by Animal Control were not puppies for sale, but belonged to one of the suspects.

The store stayed open today with the assistance of Franks’ family members who did not want to make a comment.

South Lake Tahoe implemented an ordinance last year that bans the sale of dogs and cats. Broc’s is allowed to operate until spring 2011 based on that legislation.

The Lake Tahoe Humane Society sent this to the media today, “The LTHS and SPCA has been contacted by a buyer who had DNA testing performed on a puppy purchased at Broc’s. The test results contributed to a court judgment for damages, according to the buyer. The buyer would like interested parties to know that she is holding a demonstration in front of the Broc’s Puppies store beginning at 10 AM Saturday, January 9. She stated that the demonstration will continue until the judgment is paid. Signs will be available for those who wish to participate in support of the judgment.”