Photo: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

TORRES RUIZ, DIEGO was arrested on 12/08/2022 at 12:20 Date of Birth: 07/03/1993 Age: 29 Gender: M Race: W Address: 86550 OVERSEAS HWY, ISLAMORADA, FL 33036 Occupation: COOK Arrest Location: 87000 OVERSEAS HWY, TAVERNIER Incident #: MCSO22CAD213661 - Offense #: MCSO22OFF009234 Charges: 1 Misdemeanor Count(s) of 828.12.1 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS 1 Felony Count(s) of 828.12.2 CONSERV

A Florida man was arrested on Thursday after authorities say he threw two kittens from a moving vehicle last month.

Diego Torres Ruiz, 29, faces two counts of animal cruelty.

Ruiz is accused of throwing the two kittens out of the window of his car as he drove on U.S. 1 on Nov. 28, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Officesaid in a statement on Facebook.

A motorist, who said they saw the felines tumble from a northbound Hyundai Santa Fe near mile marker 87, provided authorities with the vehicle’s tag number, the sheriff’s office said. The witness said it caused other drivers to swerve in order to avoid hitting the cats, according to the sheriff’s office statement.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

MCSO - Florida Keys Sorpesotdn e 04m a u d 61 a l2f0 r m Y : 9 7 e 0ucg1 M t s u 1 c A g0300 1 l y c20a 1 t · A 29-year-old Islamorada man who tossed two kittens from a moving vehicle on U.S. 1 was arrested Thursday. Diego Torres Ruiz was charged with two counts of animal cruelty. “I take these incidents very seriously and I’m happy to report an arrest was made in this case,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. On Nov. 28, a motorist reported seeing two kittens tumble from a northbound Hyundai Santa Fe near Mile Marker 87 causing vehicles to swerve to avoid hitting them. The witness provided the tag number and description of the suspect vehicle. The suspect, later identified as Ruiz, was stopped shortly thereafter. He denied knowing anything about the kittens. The cats were not immediately found and Ruiz was released. The Sheriff’s Office continued to search for the kittens. Later on Nov. 28, one kitten was found dead by the Sheriff’s Office after apparently being struck by a vehicle. A second nearby kitten ran into the woods and out of sight, but was later found by a Rain Barrel Village employee and taken to Whiskers & Paws in Key Largo with non-life-threatening injuries. The witness adopted the kitten that survived and confirmed the kittens looked like those from the incident on U.S. 1. The witness also identified Ruiz’s vehicle as the suspect vehicle on the highway. The Sheriff’s Office notified the State Attorney’s Office and warrants were obtained for Ruiz’s arrest. See less

Ruiz was stopped shortly after the incident but was released after authorities were unable to find the kittens and he denied knowing about the cats, the sheriff’s office said.

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The witness also allegedly identified Ruiz’s vehicle as the suspect vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

Ruiz is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 3. It is not clear if Ruiz has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

source: people.com