Cat killed with axe
Spruce Pine, AL (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Jul 13, 2002
County: Franklin

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Tommy Barry Grissom

Tommy Barry Grissom, 45, of Franklin 61, Spruce Pine, is charged with cruelty to animals. An eyewitness visiting one of Grisson's neighbors saw him kill the cat July 13.

The woman said she saw him strike it several times with an ax. He then tried to throw the carcass at a neighbor. Grissom then threw the cat on top of his house.

When the investigators went to Grissom's house, the cat was still on the roof.

Grissom claims he killed the cat because it was infected with a disease. Assistant District Attorney Joey Rushing said he talked with a local veterinary office and was told that this disease is treatable.

The crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The case will be placed on the November district court docket. "Anytime a case involves allegations of animal cruelty, we treat it seriously."

References

• Florence AL Times-Daily - Oct 17, 2002

« AL State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Franklin County, AL

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.