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Nephew Charged With Killing Cat In St. Petersburg

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2008

Michael David Reichard

ST. PETERSBURG - A 25-year-old man has been arrested on charges he killed one of his uncle's eight cats while his uncle was letting him stay at his house, St. Petersburg police say.

Michael David Reichard was charged with felony animal cruelty, St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa said. When tracked down, Reichard was driving a car erratically and subsequently charged with driving under the influence, Kajtsa said.

It was unclear why Reichard killed the cat, Kajtsa said.

A witness saw Reichard enter the uncle's home at 762 60th Ave. N.E. carrying the animal, Kajtsa said. The cat was fighting and scratching, the witness told authorities, Kajtsa said. Later, Reichard was seen leaving the home carrying a plastic bag, Kajtsa said.

An officer on the case spotted Reichard at the wheel of a car and Reichard swerved, almost hitting a parked car, to avoid the officer's squad car, Kajtsa said.

The officer reported he could smell alcohol on Reichard's breath and that his speech was thick, slow and mumbled, Kajtsa said. In addition, the officer spotted numerous scratches and puncture wounds on Reichard's body, along with blood splattered on his clothes, Kajtsa said.

The cat, named Mustache, was found dead in a trash can, Kajtsa said.

Reichard was staying with his uncle, Glenn Reichard, because he was not getting along with his stepfather, Kajtsa said.

Glenn Reichard had a total of eight cats, Kajtsa said.

Michael David Reichard was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m. and held on $5,500 bail.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 215-3582 or sthompson@tampatrib.com.

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