Man arrested for animal cruelty in connection to missing, dead cats in Springfield

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man was arrested Sunday in connection with missing and dead cats in Springfield, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.

Blake William Miles, 35, is now facing one count of animal cruelty and one count of petit theft, JSO said.

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JSO said it began getting calls about the missing and dead cats in the area in mid-November. People also called JSO with information on the potential suspect, and officers also gathered information through social media posts.

Action News Jax’s Ben Ryan spoke with neighbors on Nov. 18 about the cats, and they told him there were more than 20 either missing or dead in the past 6 weeks.

Concern over 20+ missing cats in last 6 weeks

We first showed you a surveillance video earlier this month showing a man believed to be smothering a cat on a tarp and then walking away with it.

According to a police report, officials watched the video and described the person in the video as slamming the cat to the ground.

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According to a GoFundMe about the incidents, cats were “found mutilated in a dumpster in Springfield.”

JSO said Zone 1 officers started canvassing the area after noticing a pattern in the incidents. They were able to put a name and a face to the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for Miles.

Officers are following up on similar cases in the area and are working to find out if they are connected to Miles, or if there are others involved.

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