BROOKINGS – A suspect was arrested Wednesday in connection with a video on social media that showed a man torturing and killing an injured cat, according to Assistant Chief Derrick Powers.
The suspect has been identified as 19-year-old Michael Forman of Brookings. He’s facing a Class 6 felony charge of cruelty to animals. Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson said the arrest occurred in Brookings County but that charges would be filed in Hamlin County.
The Brookings Police Department received a report of the video on Tuesday evening, Powers said in a press release.
A Facebook post by Brookings Police said the department had received a number of calls regarding the video.
“The investigation identified the male in the video as a 19-year-old Brookings resident. The male suspect was interviewed by officers from our department as part of the investigation and was subsequently arrested on the afternoon of Feb. 19, 2020, for cruelty to animals, which is a Class 6 felony,” Powers said.
The man was transported to the Brookings County Detention Center and turned over to their custody, Powers added.
Hamlin County State’s Attorney John Delzer said he received a report from the Brookings Police Department Wednesday regarding cruelty involving a cat, and based on that report, he signed a criminal complaint for a Class 6 felony against Forman.
“He admitted that the incident happened in Hamlin County,” Delzer said.
Forman was being held in the Brookings County Detention Center as of Wednesday afternoon on $2,000 cash or surety bond.
