Kittens beaten in box hanging from a tree
Glendale, CA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 15, 1999
County: Los Angeles

Disposition: Dismissed

Persons of Interest:
» Eric Lopez
» 17 year old boy

Eric Lopez, 18, of Glendale had felony cruelty charges against him dropped because he had an airtight alibi - he was in the Los Angeles County jail from July 13 through July 20 when the incident occurred on July 15.

An eyewitness saw three people beating a box of kittens hanging in a tree with a pole. When the box broke open, the kittens fell out. A 14-year old girl identified Lopez and a 17-year old boy as two of the three people she saw.

"She was just so positive it was him." The 17-year old still is in custody and the investigation into the incident is continuing.

Glendale police Sgt Rick Young said "We have not totally ruled Lopez out, but evidence appears to show he was not involved, so we have released him pending further investigation."

A witness told police July 15 she was walking to Glendale High School when she saw a young girl screaming at three boys who were laughing and using a pole to beat a cardboard box suspended from a tree.

When she heard kittens screaming inside the box, the witness yelled at the boys to stop. They ignored her hitting the box until it broke.

The witness said she was calling the police and the boys ran away. The young girl took one of the kittens and ran away with it. The second witness took the remaining three kittens to school. She told Glendale High School Resource Officer Sue Shine what had happened.

Lopez who was being held in Los Angeles County Jail on $100,000 bail was still in custody Tuesday evening. He may have to wait until his next court date to be released from jail. It is likely he will be released before then.

References

• Los Angeles Times - Aug 4, 1999

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