Puppy beaten, buried alive, teens charged: Bakersfield, CA (US) - Jun 6, 2011

Incident Date: Monday, Jun 6, 2011
County: Kern

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» 15-year-old-male
» 17-year-old male

Officers with the Bakersfield Police Department have arrested two teens who were in the process of burying live dogs.

Sgt. Mary DeGeare said that about 8:20 a.m. Monday, the BPD received a call regarding two boys, 15 and 17 years old, who were burying live dogs in the 1900 block of East Planz Road.

A homeowner said they saw two teens, one of whom was striking one of three puppies with a stick.

The boys then began to bury the same puppy in a pre-dug hole on the shoulder of the road where East Planz Road intersects with Hale Street, DeGeare said.

DeGeare said the witness called the police and then confronted the boys, who both ran.

Police said the buried puppy was freeing itself from the dirt and the other two puppies were loose nearby.

The 17-year-old returned to the area and the younger returned later with a parent.

The BPD's investigation revealed the animals were owned by the boys, and they were attempting to dispose of the dogs because of problems they were causing in their yard, DeGeare said.

Both boys were arrested on charges of conspiracy and animal cruelty and taken to Juvenile Hall.

The 8-week-old pit bull mix puppies were taken by city Animal Control

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Teens admit to shooting at least 50 cats: Battle Ground, WA (US) - Jun 5, 2011

Incident Date: Sunday, Jun 5, 2011
County: Clark

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Jaren M. Koistinen
» Riley J. Munger
» Mitchell S. Kangas

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

An investigation by Battle Ground Police into a cat being shot Sunday led to the arrest of three teens who are allegedly responsible for five cases of cats being shot in the area.

At just before 8 p.m. June 5, Battle Ground police were investigating a report that a cat had been shot in the 700 block of Northeast 3rd Avenue. Police saw a vehicle attempting to leave the area that matched the vehicle description of a suspect. Police were able to catch up to the vehicle and stopped it in the 400 block of Northwest Onsdorff Blvd.

As police approached the blue Ford Explorer, they saw several .22 caliber shell casings. The three males in the vehicle -- two of whom are 16 and one of whom is 17 -- were taken into custody and booked into juvenile detention. Criminal charges of drive by shooting, unlawful discharge of a firearm, animal cruelty and possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle are being filed. Two .22 caliber rifles were recovered from the vehicle along with several hundred rounds of ammunition. One of the rifles was loaded when it was recovered by the officers.

This investigation will close five cases from the last few months of cats being reported shot within Battle Ground City limits and several others just outside City limits. The three boys admitted to shooting at least 50 cats. Further investigations are ongoing with Clark County Sheriff's department.

Three teenagers who were expected to be appear in court this morning on charges relating to an alleged shooting rampage of 100 cats agreed to postpone their arraignment until June 28.

Mitchell S. Kangas, 16, Jaren M. Koistinen, 16, and Riley J. Munger, 17, will be formally charged at 1:30 p.m. June 28 in Clark County Superior Court.

Prosecutors have yet to file charges, but have said they are considering charges of drive-by shooting and animal cruelty among other allegations.

Koistinen and Kangas are sophomores at Battle Ground High School and Munger is a junior at La Center High School.

The three were arrested Sunday night in Battle Ground after a resident reported that her cat was shot in the face. She saw the shooters and described their SUV to police, according to court documents.

When the teens' Ford Explorer was stopped by a police officer minutes later, a loaded rifle and several hundred rounds of ammunition were found inside, according to Battle Ground police. When questioned, Kangas allegedly admitted to shooting 50 cats in northern Clark County over the past two months, according to court documents.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Camara Banfield said at the teens' first court appearance that investigators believe at least 100 cats were shot.

All three have been released from the Clark County Jail after posting bond.

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