infoIowa man arrested after witnesses record, interrupt kitten abuse

   
Iowa man arrested after witnesses record, interrupt kitten abuse

Des Moines resident Jason Thomas Fortney, 49, is charged with animal abuse.

According to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, a 12-week-old kitten named Willow was rescued after several people witnessed the abuse, confronted Fortney, and took the kitten from him.

Footage taken by Spencer Pierce, who witnessed the abuse, shows Fortney swing Willow around by the leash and slam her onto the concrete sidewalk.

Pierce said he and his family saw the animal abuse occur and started recording.

\u00e2\u0080\u009cHe started hitting the cat again,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Pierce said. \u00e2\u0080\u009cI just couldn't see it anymore, so I had to get out of the car and stop it.\u00e2\u0080\u009d

The video shows Pierce and a friend walk up to Fortney and ask him to stop.

\u00e2\u0080\u009cHe tried to resist and he started to pull the leash around the cat's neck, and so then I jumped on him,\u00e2\u0080\u009d Pierce said.

Fortney is being held in Polk County Jail.