A dispute over a cat on a Muncie roadway turned bloody on Tuesday when an argument allegedly escalated into a stabbing that left one man with a large laceration across his back and shoulder, police say. Authorities report that 57-year-old Michael Thornton was taken into custody and is being held at the Delaware County Jail on felony charges. A video of the confrontation has circulated online and, according to reports, appears to show the animal being mishandled shortly before the attack.
What police say
Officers responded to a roadway in Muncie at about 4:45 p.m. and found a man suffering from a knife wound, with “a large laceration from the middle of his back to the right side of his shoulder,” according to WKRC. The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Video shows the confrontation
Video shared with investigators reportedly shows the suspect holding the man’s cat by the neck and dropping it onto the roadway. That prompted the victim to say, “Sir, can you put my cat down please, thank you, and how about you just leave the cat alone,” before the dispute escalated, WXIN reported. Court documents cited by the station say the two men met in the street, a scuffle followed and the victim was stabbed. Police later located a knife at the scene.
Charges and booking
Thornton was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and battery with a deadly weapon, both felonies, and was booked into the Delaware County Jail, according to WXIN. Prosecutors had not yet announced whether additional charges would be filed and the sheriff’s office had not released an immediate statement.
Pet disputes can escalate
Incidents involving pets have led to arrests in Indiana this year. In May, Evansville police arrested a man accused of stabbing a neighborhood cat, underscoring how animal disputes can turn violent, WFIE/14News reported. Local police and animal-control agencies generally advise people to avoid confrontation and to report suspected animal abuse to authorities.
Court dates and formal filings will be available through Delaware County records as the case moves forward. This story will be updated as official statements or court filings become available.
