OC jailers accused of Tasering cat

Published: April 16, 2008 at 1:59 PM

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 16 (UPI) -- Officials in Orange County, Calif., confirmed they were investigating allegations that jailers used a Taser gun to kill a stray cat.

The Sheriff's Department said a necropsy was performed on the cat to see how it died.

"This isn't being taken lightly," sheriff's spokesman John McDonald told the Los Angeles Times Wednesday. "This is a pretty serious matter."

The allegations could turn into a felony animal abuse charge, the newspaper said.

The alleged incident took place at the Theo Lacy Jail, which has been the subject of a grand jury probe into lax enforcement of rules and abuse on the part of the correctional deputies.

The newspaper said allegations include the April 1 death of an inmate who was hit by a stun gun. Deputies also allegedly recruited inmates to act as their enforcers while they goofed off.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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