A Palm Coast resident was arrested in Mississippi this week as a fugitive for local animal cruelty charges. 34-year-old Atticus Robert was accused of killing a cat in the midst of a domestic disturbance, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The story began on March 7th of this year, when FCSO deputies were called to a domestic disturbance. In this incident, Robert was said to have prevented the victim from leaving while the two argued about the nature of a cat’s death. He was arrested that day and charged with false imprisonment. Three days later, Robert posted his $5,000 bond.
After Robert’s initial arrest, detectives with the FCSO launched an investigation into the nature of the cat’s passing. According to the agency’s report, they had observed scratches on Robert’s face and learned that he’d been alone with the animal for approximately an hour before its death.
A necropsy was performed on the cat (the term usually used for autopsies on animals), leading to the determination that the cat had suffered collapsed lungs from blunt force trauma. The total results of the FCSO’s investigation led to an arrest warrant being issued on April 3rd. At this point in time Robert’s residence was believed to be his vehicle, and his exact location wasn’t immediately known.
Robert remained at-large until Tuesday, when he was arrested in Hernando, Mississippi, not far from Nashville, Tennessee. The Hernando Police Department contacted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office saying they’d located and arrested Robert on his warrant out of Flagler County. At that point he was booked into the DeSoto County Adult Detention Facility in Hernando, and he is awaiting extradition to Flagler County as of Friday.
“If you seriously hurt or kill an innocent animal that cannot defend itself, we will find you and put you in the [county jail] where you belong,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I commend our deputies and detectives for thoroughly investigating this case and thank the Hernando Police Department for locating and helping us bring this guy to justice.”
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
