New Richland Police Chief Scott Eads has issued a written statement regarding the dead cats removed from the roof of a downtown building on Friday, Jan. 23.
The statement reads:
“During the past weeks, a thorough and extensive investigation was conducted into this matter and it has been determined, based on the facts obtained during said investigation, that the carcasses of two cats found on the roof of the building located at 101 S. Broadway Ave. had been dead for weeks prior to them being deposited in this location.
“It was also determined that the deaths of these animals were not the result of any malicious or tortuous treatment by juvenile offenders or anyone else. All indications are these animals died as a result of being struck by vehicles at separate times and locations. One was located on the boulevard of a street in the north part of town and the other encrusted in ice near the roadway on the south side of town. Any decay, mutilation or further damage occurred after these animals were dead.“It has been determined that the information as provided to and reported by the media was perhaps taken out of context at the time the information was gathered. Given the concern many have for domesticated animals and the potential implications this type of behavior would have, if done to living animals, we can certainly understand the type of emotional response this generated.”