A 45-year-old man from Santa Ana was arrested on Wednesday, suspected of animal cruelty involving neighborhood cats. Authorities believe he may be linked to the deaths of more than a dozen cats in the area.
The Santa Ana Police Department had been receiving reports of missing cats and suspected animal abuse for several weeks. Following an investigation, Alejandro Oliveros Acosta was taken into custody and charged with felony animal cruelty.
Police said that multiple victims and witnesses identified Acosta as the person who lured their cats away from their homes. Officers, along with Santa Ana’s Animal Control Division, searched his residence on West Wilshire Avenue and arrested him.
While officials did not disclose specific evidence collected during the search, they confirmed that Acosta is being investigated for the abduction of at least one cat, a Bengal Lynx named Clubber, which had been reported missing. The cat was later reunited with its owner, Eva Corlew.
Yessenia Aspeitia, a media relations coordinator for the Santa Ana Police, stated that investigators are working to establish a timeline of the incidents. They are also reviewing local social media for reports of stolen or missing cats to gather more information.
Local cat owners have expressed concern, sharing photos and videos of their missing pets online. The police are urging anyone with information about the case to reach out to them directly.