An Englewood man is facing a felony charge after allegedly leaving his dog locked in a hot car and then running over a bystander who attempted to help the distressed animal.
Authorities say Anthony Panagoplos has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he reportedly used his vehicle to strike a good Samaritan in a parking lot outside a Bealls department store in Placida on Friday. No charges have yet been filed related to the treatment of the dog.
According to witnesses, Liz Briley and Sarah Nolin, employees of a local humane society, noticed a young German Shepherd mix exhibiting signs of severe heat stress inside a parked car with limited ventilation. “He was panting pretty crazy,” Briley recalled. “His gums were white, which is a really bad sign. He had clearly been in there for a while.”
Briley and Nolin, along with other concerned bystanders, attempted to cool the dog by offering water through a small window opening. When Panagoplos returned to his vehicle, witnesses say he appeared agitated, moved the car to a different parking spot, and further rolled up the windows, leaving the dog inside again before reentering the store.
Concerned for the dog’s safety amid rising temperatures—reportedly 86°F that afternoon—Briley called 911.
Before law enforcement arrived, Panagoplos returned to the car. Witnesses say he became verbally aggressive toward the group, threatening one of the men present before allegedly reversing his vehicle into him. The man was knocked to the ground but did not suffer serious injuries.
“He just hit him and took off,” Briley said. “Then he went to Taco Bell like nothing happened.”
Panagoplos was later located and arrested. The condition of the dog has not been publicly disclosed. According to Charlotte County Animal Control, interior car temperatures can exceed 100°F within minutes on a hot day, posing life-threatening risks to pets. “A dog is at risk of heat stroke when temperatures reach 105°F, and multiple organ failure can occur at 107°F,” the agency stated.
The case has sparked concern among animal welfare advocates, who are calling for stronger enforcement and education around the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles.