A man accused of torturing and killing a kitten in a public ATM vestibule in San Francisco was arrested after a police chase that ended on a hotel rooftop.
Suspect identified
William Ohlson, 33, allegedly entered a bank ATM vestibule on the 1800 block of Market Street around 2 a.m. with a small kitten and proceeded to violently torture the animal to death, according to a police statement. He then fled the scene holding the dead kitten. Local reports say he may have filmed the act.
Dramatic arrest
Police traced Ohlson, originally from Nevada, to a hotel. Upon arrival, he had fled to the roof. Using drones, officers located him and, with help from the fire service, accessed the roof and arrested him. He faces charges including killing, maiming or abusing an animal, overdrive/overwork/overload of an animal, and resisting/obstructing/delaying a peace officer.
Context of similar case
Ohlson's alleged crime follows the release of Thomas Martel, a “serial kitten killer,” earlier this month in Chicago. Martel, found guilty of multiple animal abuse crimes, was released to serve six months of mandatory supervised release after years under house arrest. Neighbors posted warning flyers stating: “Guilty cat killer released from custody, keep your pets safe!” and detailing that Martel “drowned, mutilated, decapitated and microwaved kittens and cats over the span of two months.”
