Police say a disturbing scene unfolded inside a Northeast Side business on Saturday, ending with the arrest of a San Antonio man accused of violently slamming a kitten on a counter, then trying to run off while swinging the animal in his hand.
San Antonio police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Schuyler Clark. According to an arrest affidavit cited by KSAT, Clark had been walking in and out of a store on Nacogdoches Road near O'Connor Road and was repeatedly told to leave. The affidavit states that he later came back and slammed the kitten on the counter. When officers tracked him to a second nearby business, the document says, Clark tried to flee and was "swinging the kitten back and forth" as he ran. He was arrested on several charges, including animal cruelty.
Potential charges and penalties
Texas law addresses cruelty to non‑livestock animals under Penal Code §42.092, which covers conduct ranging from neglect to torture. The statute allows prosecutors to seek penalties that vary with the facts, from a Class A misdemeanor up to a third-degree felony in aggravated or repeat cases. Under this tiered approach, prosecutors are expected to weigh the evidence, the level of injury or suffering, and any prior convictions when deciding how to charge a defendant.
How this fits a broader local pattern
The arrest adds to a growing list of high-profile animal cruelty cases drawing attention in San Antonio. Earlier this year, a man caught on video allegedly strangling a kitten was indicted after advocacy groups helped generate tips, according to Alley Cat Allies. Local shelters and advocates have been pushing for thorough investigations and have urged residents to speak up when they see possible abuse so prosecutors have stronger cases to work with.
How to report suspected animal cruelty
Local officials and animal-welfare groups advise anyone who suspects animal abuse to call 3-1-1 and ask for an Animal Care Services cruelty investigator or to reach out to the San Antonio Police Department's non-emergency line, as outlined in local coverage. Community tips and video evidence have played a key role in past investigations and remain crucial tools for building criminal cases.
