Police in Las Cruces say charges against a man accused of battering his girlfriend and mistreating two pets have been upgraded after his cat tested positive for methamphetamines.
They say 39-year-old Aaron Spaulding was arrested in June on suspicion of false imprisonment, battery against a household member, interference with communication and two counts of animal cruelty.
The animals involved are a dog and a cat.
Police say Spaulding allegedly neglected the pets and abused the cat by squeezing it until it cried out and strangling it.
[Sponsored] Controversial memory test for seniors sweeps the InternetA veterinarian told police the car showed signs of neurological deficits and its blood tested positive for meth.
Police say one of the animal cruelty charges now has been upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony.
It’s unclear if Spaulding has a lawyer yet.
The Associated Press contributed to this article