TAMPA, Fla. - Criminal charges against the suspect who was accused of abandoning Troopers the dog along I-75 during Hurricane Milton evacuations were dropped by the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office.

Giovanny Aldama Garcia was set to appear in court for his pretrial and trial in November, but the court drama is over now that the prosecutor entered the "Nolle Posequi" document. It's a jaw-dropping ending to a criminal case that drew outrage from the community to the point that state law was changed.

The backstory:

The Tampa Bay area was braced for a second hurricane impact as Milton churned towards the Gulf Coast with increasing intensity in October 2024. Evacuation orders were already given and drivers were recommended to stay off of the roads as people were encouraged to shelter

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