Updated: $1,000 reward led to arrest of alleged kitten-killer

photo Katniss the kitten
photo Gary A. Westfield, 31, of Cleveland, was placed in custody today at approximately 1 p.m., according to Evie West, public information officer for the Cleveland Police Department. Westfield is being charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a Class E felony.

The reward of more than $1,000 offered to anyone with information in the investigation regarding the kitten that was burned in Cleveland, Tenn., earlier this month is believed to have led to an arrest, according to officials at the Cleveland Police Department.

Evie West, public information officer with the Department, said that the reward motivated a witness to come forward and help investigators arrest Gary A. Westfield, 31, of Cleveland, who has a slew of previous charges and convictions on his record.

Westfield has been charged with animal cruelty in connection with the eight-week-old kitten that was severely burned.

Westfield, was placed in custody today at approximately 1 p.m., according to West.

Westfield is being charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a Class E felony.

The kitten, named Katniss by caretakers, was brought to Animal Aid in Athens, Tenn., with burns covering 90 percent of its body. Katniss died on Sunday morning after battling sepsis, which is caused by an infection in the bloodstream, according to veterinarian Todd Dolen.

See tomorrow's Times Free Press for the complete story.

Updated Tuesday at 5:22 p.m. with new information.

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