An Ontario County man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after he trapped a live raccoon and set the animal on fire.
35-year-old Willis Bowles Jr. of High Street in Geneva was arrested after a complaint was posted on social media.
Ontario County Human Society Investigators and Ontario County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant at Bowles’ home. They found evidence that Bowles caught the raccoon in a live trap, poured flammable liquid on the animal, and set it on fire while it was still alive. The dead raccoon was recovered.
Police also found a loaded assault weapon and ammunition.
Bowles was charged with animal cruelty and criminal possession of a weapon. 30-year-old Hayden Williams, who lived with Bowles, was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
Both will appear in City Court at a later date.
