TRAVERSE CITY — Authorities tracked down a Grawn teen who they believe severed a cat's head and stuffed it in a plastic bag.
Judge Michael J. Haley arraigned Jonathan David Cook, 18, on Thursday in 86th District Court on a felony count of killing or torturing animals. He requested a court-appointed attorney. Cook remained in the Grand Traverse County Jail on Friday on a $50,000 cash bond.
Grand Traverse sheriff's deputies arrested Cook on Wednesday at a Blair Township residence. The arrest comes two weeks after prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for him.
"He knew we were looking for him because we were checking his house," said sheriff's Sgt. Randy Fewless.
Cook told deputies that a cat bit him when he attempted to pet it, so he stabbed the animal to death, police reports show.
Cook denied severing the cat's head, but witnesses told investigators he bragged about doing just that. He is accused of stuffing the cat's head in a plastic bag tied to his belt buckle, then showing off the trophy to friends.
His arrest comes amid a lengthy investigation into several cat killings and disappearances throughout Blair Township. Deputies responded to multiple complaints of dead and mutilated animals in the area dating to February. Authorities have yet to link Cook to any other animal cruelty complaints, but Undersheriff Nate Alger said there were some similarities in how the animals were treated in each case.
Cook's preliminary examination is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Traverse City.
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