Metro: Man left dog in hot car during argument with ‘sugar momma’

Metro: Man left dog in hot car during argument with ‘sugar momma’ Eric Lee Ward was taken into custody at the Metro office and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Tuesday on suspicion of willfully or maliciously torturing or maiming an animal that resulted in death, according to an arrest report. Clark County Animal Protection Services said it received a call from Aloha Animal Hospital, located near Torrey Pines Drive and Warm Springs Road, on July 31. The caller reported that a man had brought in a deceased female husky the previous day. The man, later identified as Ward, told veterinary staff he had left the dog in his Audi Q5 for several hours before discovering her unresponsive. The National Weather Service recorded a high of 111 °F in Las Vegas on July 30. During a Tuesday interview, Ward informed investigators that he owned a 10‑year‑old husky named Lana. He said he and a friend had been driving Lana to a park when they stopped at a drive‑thru for food. While there, Ward called a woman named Camila West, whom he described as his “sugar momma,” and began arguing after she wanted to cancel their meal plans. The dispute intensified, and Ward pulled into a parking lot. He decided to return home rather than take Lana to the park. The arrest report quotes Ward as saying, “Eric stated the argument escalated to the parties yelling at each other and Eric started getting an anxiety attack,” and “Eric stated he was so upset; he just went inside the house while still on the phone with Camila.” Police noted that Ward entered his residence at approximately 11 a.m. Shortly afterward, his friend, identified as Mercedes, inquired about Lana’s whereabouts. Ward responded that the dog was with a neighbor, a claim the report labeled “not the case.” Mercedes pressed again, prompting Ward to search the house and backyard. At about 2:20 p.m., he returned to his vehicle to look for his wallet and found Lana “already stiff” with blood issuing from her mouth. A necropsy determined that heat stroke, blood clots, and organ failure caused Lana’s death. The report includes Ward’s observation: “‘Lana’ was in the vehicle for hours, likely confused, as her organs shut down one by one, with no relief until she passed away,” and adds, “The death of this dog was entirely preventable and cruel.” Court records show Ward posted a $5,000 bond on the day of his arrest. He made an initial appearance on Wednesday before Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum, with a subsequent hearing set for October 6. No attorney is listed on his case overview.