An Atlantic City man charged with cruelty to two cats posted video of himself abusing one of the animals, according to the charges.
Ericxon Santos, 18, is accused of throwing two different cats up in the air and letting them fall to the concrete on two different occasions.
Both incidents were captured on video, with one coming straight from Santos’ social media, according to the affidavit of probable cause obtained by BreakingAC.
The video shows Santos holding a black cat, throwing it in the air and letting it hit the ground, the affidavit states. The video includes a caption in Spanish, which the affidavit says translates to, “My personality is to have no mercy.”
The investigation was sparked by a text sent through the tip411 system, which allows the public to text with police anonymously.
The tip included video from a Ring doorbell camera that showed four people walking on the street, according to the affidavit.
A male is seen going under a vehicle and picking up a black-and-white cat, throwing it high up in the air and letting it hit the concrete, the affidavit states. The cat is not seen moving after that.
The video was sent to Humane Law Enforcement Officer Matthew Schmidt, who was able to track Santos’ movements to see he stops directly in front of 103 N. Chelsea Ave., he wrote in the affidavit.
The store owner gave Schmidt permission to view his surveillance video, and Schmidt emailed himself a clearer video of the suspect, the officer wrote.
Then on Dec. 5, Schmidt was emailed the video from Santos’ social media.
That led to the name Ericxon Santos, who also is identified on some media as Ericxon Santos Alvarado, the affidavit states.
It also led to Santos’ place of employment, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and eventually a visit to Santos’ home Christmas Eve, according to the affidavit.
Santos indicated he did not speak English, so Officer Felix Rivera was called to translate.
Santos admitted that it was him in the videos “but claims it was an ‘accident’ and that he ‘regrets doing it,’” Schmidt wrote.
He is charged with third-degree animal cruelty for the black-and-white cat that had an injured leg, the charge states.
No condition was given of the black cat. That charge is fourth degree.
Santos was issued a summons and not jailed.
