Miami-Dade man accused of choking girlfriend, abusing dog during argument

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A Miami-Dade man is facing multiple charges after deputies said he repeatedly attacked his girlfriend and abused her dog during a domestic violence incident earlier this month.

Jail records show Kevin Monasterio, 24, was arrested Tuesday following the July 11 incident that occurred at his home near the 12000 block of Southwest 203rd Lane in the county’s Princeton neighborhood.

Monasterio and the victim, who had been dating for about a year and lived together, got into an argument around midnight over the victim’s dog, according to an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

The report states Monasterio punched the dog in the face before picking it up and throwing it against a wall. After the victim placed the dog in a crate, Monasterio turned his anger toward her, repeatedly punching her, investigators said.

“He placed both hands around the victim’s neck and squeezed intently, causing the victim’s breathing to be impeded,” a deputy wrote in the report.

Deputies said Monasterio then pushed the victim to the ground, straddled her and continued choking her while slamming her body against the floor.

According to the report, Monasterio later flipped the dog’s crate over with the dog still inside, threw the crate outside and grabbed a water hose to “waterboard” the dog by repeatedly spraying it in the face, a term investigators used to describe forcing water onto the dog’s face in a way intended to simulate drowning.

Investigators said a second altercation occurred around 7 a.m. after the victim woke up.

The report states Monasterio began yelling, hitting the dog and punching the victim before again grabbing her by the neck with both hands and impeding her breathing.

Before leaving to get coffee, Monasterio allegedly threatened to kill both the victim and the dog if she left the home without telling him, according to the report.

Once he left, the victim went to a family member’s home and called 911, deputies said.

They said the victim sustained bruising on both sides of the victim’s neck and on both of her upper arms following the attack.

Authorities said after Montastero was taken into custody Tuesday, he denied the allegations after being read his Miranda rights.

Records show he is facing one count each of domestic battery by strangulation, battery, cruelty to animals and assault.

As of Wednesday morning, he was being held on a $1,750 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About The Author
Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born on Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida, since 1994.