Middletown, OH: Police: Man killed kitten with ball bat, knife

By Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writer
Updated 11:31 PM Friday, April 16, 2010
MIDDLETOWN — A 61-year-old Middletown man was arraigned Friday, April 16, in Middletown Municipal Court for allegedly killing a kitten with a baseball bat and knife.
Middletown police said Ernest Burton, of Curtis Street, was shirtless, covered in blood and holding a knife when officers arrested him on Wednesday, April 14. Officers said Burton locked himself in his apartment and attempted to hide from police after allegedly killing at least one of the cats his former girlfriend had left behind in their apartment.
Burton is charged with cruelty to animals and obstructing official business, both second-degree misdemeanors, as well as disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. He is being held in the Middletown City Jail on $8,000 bond.
Officers reportedly found blood splatter on the steps leading to Burton’s residence, on his front door and all over the floor of his apartment, according to police reports. Outside the apartment was a dead kitten, which police said appeared to have been beaten to death.
A baseball bat and lock blade knife were located inside Burton’s apartment, both covered with pieces of fur and blood, according to reports.
Burton who appeared intoxicated, reportedly told police he killed his ex-girlfriend’s cats because he did not want them and she left them behind when she moved out.
When he was placed into a cruiser, according to the police report he allegedly stated, “When Judge (Mark) Wall lets me out I will be twice as bad and kill twice as many cats.”
Humane Officer Liz Lucas said only the kitten’s carcass was found and police are not sure whether any other cats were killed.
Burton’s attorney Ken Crehan on Friday asked visiting Judge Larry Moore to “consider no more bond so we can get him to the hospital” for treatment of “serious medical issues.”