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Witnesses: To him, kitten just a tiny target

Accused of shooting a kitten with a crossbow, he hands a detective a cell phone, saying, "Talk to my attorney."

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published August 20, 2005

	[Photo: Humane Society of Pinellas]
	Veterinarians on Thursday removed a 12-inch arrow from the 9-week-old kitten, since named Archer. He is recovering.
	Stephen H. Cockerill, 19, is accused of shooting a kitten with a crossbow.
	Kitten shot with arrow (8/19/05)

TARPON SPRINGS - A day after a stray kitten was found impaled with an arrow, detectives received a half-dozen tips Friday morning, all zeroing in on one man: Stephen H. Cockerill, 19, of Palm Harbor.

As a group of friends watched, police believe, Cockerill grabbed a crossbow from his truck and told them he was going to shoot a cat.

He fired once, skewering a 11/2-pound kitten through its midsection. The kitten ran away before the group could catch it.

Cockerill grabbed a second arrow, police said. He fired again at another stray cat, but missed.

"Knock it off!" one of the friends yelled, according to police.

At least two of the witnesses came forward Friday and gave detectives their account, said Tarpon Springs police Sgt. Jeff Young.

They told investigators that on Wednesday afternoon they were walking on Wesley Avenue, where Cockerill and friends work on trucks, when they noticed a group of strays. Cockerill then retrieved his crossbow.

Friday afternoon, Detective Scott Brockew went looking for Cockerill and saw him in a car along the way to Wesley Avenue. Brockew pulled the vehicle over.

When Brockew told Cockerill he was being arrested on a charge of animal cruelty, Cockerill handed the detective a cell phone, saying, "Talk to my attorney," police said.

Cockerill, who has no criminal record in Florida, was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday evening in lieu of $5,000 bail. Neither he nor his family could be reached for comment.

Kathy Powers, 44, who discovered the impaled kitten Thursday morning as she fed neighborhood strays, learned of Cockerill's arrest Friday evening.

"My question is, why would they do that to a kitten, but it's probably something that won't ever be answered," Power said.

Powers found the kitty about 5:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly after arriving at her shop, Tropic Sign and Shirts on Wesley Avenue. She plans to adopt him once he recovers.

The 9-week-old kitten, since nicknamed Archer, continued to improve Friday. He went through surgery the day before to remove the arrow, which had fractured a rib, punctured a lung and sliced through the liver, said Rick Chaboudy, director of the Humane Society of Pinellas.

Archer already has made great progress and was walking around, purring and enjoying all the attention showered on him at Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists in Largo, Chaboudy said.

"You wouldn't believe how much he is eating," Chaboudy said.

The story of Archer's torment has generated outrage throughout Tampa Bay, said Chaboudy. More than 500 people have called the Humane Society, with tips and other stories of animal abuse.

"A little kitten like this can sort of rally everyone together," Chaboudy said.

Jacob H. Fries can be reached at 727 445-4156 or jfries@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 20, 2005, 01:44:07]