Police officers arrested a St. Petersburg man for animal cruelty, for his mistreatment of a cat. Booking photo and cat photos attached.

Wednesday, January 9, a caller reported seeing Scott Rush, DOB 11-1-70, throw a cat that was inside a carrier, into a ditch filled with water.

When he saw he was being watched, Rush grabbed the carrier and went to a nearby dumpster behind a business at 4444 4th Street North. He removed the cat from the carrier and began kicking and hitting the animal.

Rush was charged with cruelty to animals, felony.

The cat was checked out a veterinarian office, then taken to Pinellas Animal Services.