Police say a late-night alley confrontation in Salt Lake City took a brutal turn when a man swung a metal pole, struck a cat, and killed it during an attempted robbery on Tuesday, July 7. The 34-year-old suspect is in custody and faces potential charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated cruelty to an animal. According to police, the victim grabbed a wooden board to defend himself, ran from the alley, and later contacted authorities.
How The Alley Confrontation Turned Violent
Court documents reviewed by FOX13 state that the suspect, identified as Zachory Dee Wardle, and an unidentified woman confronted the man in a Salt Lake City alley and demanded to search his belongings. When the man refused, Wardle allegedly began hurling rocks while the woman tried to grab the victim’s bag and bike. Police say Wardle then swung a metal pole that hit the cat perched on the victim’s shoulder, causing the animal to fall and convulse as the man fled the scene.
What Utah Law Says About Animal Cruelty
Under Utah law, “aggravated cruelty to an animal” covers torturing, poisoning, or killing an animal without legal privilege and can bring penalties that range from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the details of the case, according to the Utah Legislature. The statute treats intentionally torturing a companion animal as a more serious crime, with higher potential felony exposure. How this case is ultimately charged will depend on the evidence gathered and the discretion of the Salt Lake County attorney’s office.
Arrest, Admission And Next Steps
Officers later located Wardle and the unidentified woman near 920 South 900 West. According to FOX13, Wardle admitted that he confronted the victim and hit the cat with a metal pole. He was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of aggravated robbery and aggravated cruelty to an animal.
Wardle remains in custody while the investigation continues and prosecutors sift through court filings and other evidence. Utah’s code allows for a range of penalties on aggravated cruelty charges, and any formal charges, bond decisions, and potential sentences will be sorted out in court.
