Miami Beach Police have arrested a 36-year-old man they say used two arrows and fatally shot a popular stray cat outside a local hotel – an event that sparked outrage in the animal rights community.
Georgios Lollias was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with two counts, including animal cruelty and tampering with evidence. He is being held on $10,000 bond.
Police say that Lollias used a crossbow to shoot at "Strushie," a popular cat that roamed the area outside The Franklin Hotel, located at 860 Collins Avenue, in the morning hours of April 26. A local woman who fed the cat on a daily basis found Strushie with an arrow in its head and neck.
Strushie was taken to a local vet where he was euthanized.
Officials obtained surveillance video from outside the hotel, which they say was deleted from the time of the alleged incident. Miami Beach Police received assistance from a U.S. Secret Service task force to retrieve the deleted footage and identify Lollias.
Lollias later admitted to police that he did shoot the cat, police said. He is expected in court Wednesday afternoon.
"It is a great relief that we have found some level of justice for Strushie," Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates said in a statement. "This was a horrific act of animal cruelty. I congratulate our detectives on this arrest and the U.S. Secret Service for the critical assistance they provided to us."
Story from our news partner NBCMiami
MBPD has arrested and charged Georgios Lollias with Animal Cruelty and Tampering with Evidence. https://t.co/Wsn9PszW6B
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) July 5, 2017