Hunter
05/13/21
Cedar Rapids police announced that they’ve arrested a resident after he allegedly dumped a cat into the Cedar River earlier this week.
According to a release from the Police Department, they received a report at 8:19 am Monday about an individual who had thrown a cat from the 3rd Avenue Bridge into the river. An officer located the cat trying to get out of the river on a rocky incline near May’s Island. Linn County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and helped remove the cat from underneath a rock next to the water.
Officers spoke with a witness who said it appeared that a man intentionally dumped the cat out of a pet carrier.
The owner of the cat, identified as 86-year-old Lloyd Baird, went to the Police Station shortly thereafter and inquired as to whether police had found his cat. Baird told an officer that he was driving near the river and decided he wanted to look at the water. He claimed that the cat was in a pet carrier and wanted the cat to see the river as well. Baird denied throwing the cat into the river, claiming that when he opened the pet carrier, the cat panicked and jumped in.
During their investigation into the crime, officers were able to obtain video surveillance of the incident. Baird is accused of leaning over the rail of the bridge, holding the carrier over the water with the door open and facing down. He then allegedly shook the carrier, causing the cat to fall out and into the river.
Police arrested Baird Wednesday afternoon and charged him with Animal Abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by a jail term of up to two years if convicted.
The cat, a 7-year-old spayed female orange Tabby, is being treated at the Cedar Rapids Animal Care and Control shelter. Upon arrival, his body temperature was 7 degrees below normal, but X-rays showed no broken bones. The vet says the cat should make a full recovery.