SAN ANTONIO – A man turned himself in and was arrested in connection with the death of a kitten that was caught on surveillance footage, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
Ryan Berlanga, 31, was allegedly seen on footage strangling a kitten to its death around 1:35 p.m. on Nov. 9 at an apartment complex in the 7400 block of Yarrow Boulevard on the South Side.
The day after the incident, the department posted several photos on Facebook of Berlanga wearing a red hoodie, asking the public to help identify him.
With community assistance and media coverage, SAPD Public Information Officer Supervisor Ariel Hernandez said investigators identified Berlanga as the suspect.
A warrant was later issued for Berlanga’s arrest, Hernandez said. On Tuesday, Hernandez stated that Berlanga turned himself in without further incident.
“If you see something, please say something,” Hernandez told reporters.
According to an arrest affidavit, a person who called police had provided footage that showed Berlanga allegedly killing the kitten.
The affidavit states there was blood at the scene.
The footage allegedly shows Berlanga chasing a kitten on the third floor of the apartment building until it stopped on the steps, where he leaned toward it and appeared to grab it with both hands, the affidavit states.
The document states that Berlanga also appeared to use his left hand to “press down forcefully” on the kitten and, at one point, grabbed the kitten’s tail with his right hand and pulled upward.
Berlanga faces a charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals, according to police.
Hernandez also said that Berlanga has a criminal history that includes assault, harassment and theft.
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