A Henderson man is behind bars after a viral video appeared to show him picking up a cat and throwing it against a wall and into a parking lot, investigators say. The animal, identified by police as Suki, was taken to a local veterinary clinic for treatment. Authorities arrested 27-year-old Angel Ventura Ayala on Dec. 18, and he now faces a felony animal-cruelty charge.
According to KTNV, Henderson police opened an investigation after a woman reported receiving the video from her partner and realizing the clip was circulating on social media. The station reports the incident happened on Dec. 16 and that investigators then worked to track down the person seen in the footage.
FOX5 details the call that first brought officers to the scene, reporting they were dispatched to the 1000 block of Wellness Place for a family disturbance. The outlet says the video includes audio of a man saying, “I’ll throw your [expletive] cat,” before the animal is tossed twice. A veterinarian who examined Suki noted bruising and slight swelling consistent with trauma, and X-rays showed no fractures, FOX5 reports.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that, according to a Henderson Police Department news release, detectives allege the man can be heard asking, “You got this right?,” in the recording. The paper says Ayala was booked on one count of torture, maiming or killing an animal to threaten or terrorize, and that the animal received medical care.
Legal context
Nevada law treats cruel or malicious acts against companion animals as serious crimes. Under Nevada Revised Statutes section 574.100, unjustifiably maiming or torturing a pet can be charged as a felony, and an act committed to “threaten, intimidate or terrorize” another person can be elevated to a higher felony level. Courts can also order restitution for veterinary costs in such cases. The full statute is available through Justia.
What happens next
The Review-Journal reports that Ayala was taken into custody and booked on the single felony count. Henderson police say the case began after the video was reported and that investigators identified a suspect through follow-up work, according to KTNV. As in any criminal case, Ayala is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
