Case Snapshot
Case ID: 18156
Classification: Kicking/Stomping
Animal: cat
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Sunday, Jun 26, 2011

County: Alachua

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Tamarcus Lamont Harper

A man accused of killing an 8-week-old kitten was being driven to jail when he asked a police officer, "Can you go to jail for murdering a cat?"

According to the Gainesville Police Department, Tamarcus Lamont Harper also told an officer "I know I did some horrible ----- today, but never thought I'd be in the back of a cop car."

Harper, 20, of 6823 SW Fourth Place, was arrested early Sunday on charges of animal cruelty causing death, kidnapping, obstructing justice, resisting arrest, and three counts of battery.

The victims told police the incident began early Sunday when Harper arrived at their home in the Lexington Crossing Apartments at 3900 SW 27th St. Harper had been dating one of the roommates off-and-on for about two years.

Harper's former girlfriend told police that he came by the apartment early Sunday and they began to argue, so she told him to leave. The woman said Harper returned about 30 minutes later and when she would not let him back in, he kicked in the front door.

Once inside, the woman said Harper picked her up by her ankles and swung her around the living room. The two other roommates said they were wakened by the commotion. When the woman threatened to call 911, Harper threatened to harm all three roommates, police said.

The woman said she was afraid to call police, so she went to work and when she returned shortly after noon, Harper was asleep on the couch. The roommates said that when Harper woke up, another argument started and Harper punched them all. One of the roommates told police he had to make a surreptitious 911 call to avoid further angering Harper.

The former girlfriend said she heard a loud bang and saw Harper drawing back his foot. Then the woman saw her kitten's food dish was broken and the tiny animal was injured. Within a minute, the kitten was dead.

One of the roommates tried to leave but told police that Harper grabbed her by the arm and told her, "If you know what's good for you, you will stay."

Minutes later the three roommates were able to dash from the apartment. Police said they spotted Harper in the apartment complex. As he saw the officers, he dropped a pink towel and began to run. The officers said the towel was wrapped around the dead kitten.

Harper was arrested after a foot chase. He made several statements to police while being taken to jail, including telling an officer "Everything she (former girlfriend) said is true."

The roommates said they were not injured in the incident.

Harper was being held at the Alachua County jail on Monday.

References

  • « FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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