Simi Valley man accused of fatally shooting his pitbulls

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Police arrested a man Thursday in Simi Valley on suspicion of killing his pitbulls with a semiautomatic handgun, the Associated Press reports.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department website said 49-year-old Rafael Calderon Jr. remained in custody in a county jail Thursday after being arrested and booked for investigation of animal cruelty.

Calderon is eligible for release on $10,000 bail.

A Simi Valley police news release said officers investigated the deaths of the dogs in the backyard of a residence. They seized a firearm at the scene.

County Animal Control officials will perform a necropsy on the animals.

-- Francisco Vara-Orta