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Polk Deputies: Kitten Tossed From Truck; Driver Arrested

Photo from the Polk County Sheriff's Office

The surviving kitten will be placed in a foster home today, Polk County deputies say.

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TBO.com

Published: July 23, 2008

Updated: 07/23/2008 04:18 pm

Polk County deputies arrested a man this morning in Lakeland after witnesses said they saw him throw a kitten from a truck while driving.

David Carl Arthur, 67, of 11221 Rockridge Road, faces charges of animal cruelty.

Witnesses called the sheriff's office about 9:44 a.m. today and said they had followed Arthur to a Tractor Supply Co. store on U.S. 98 after seeing him run over a kitten on the highway and toss a second kitten from a window.

The witnesses confronted Arthur at the store, according to a report from the sheriff's office. One kitten was found dead by the side of Rockridge Road, another was found alive, and a third is missing.

Inside the white GMC pickup, deputies found a sign that read, "Free Kittens – 1 Mile."

The surviving kitten was taken to a Pasco County Animal Services shelter and will be available for adoption after a medical exam, according to the sheriff's office.

During the investigation, Arthur complained of shortness of breath and chest pains, and emergency medical workers took him to a local hospital.

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