David J. Brandenburg, 25, of Merrill, was charged in Lincoln County Circuit Court Tuesday with mistreatment of an animal causing death. According to court records, Brandenburg threw a cat at his East Main Street apartment in October 2015. The cat struck a door frame and died as a result.
Police were notified after the dead cat was found in a bag along the River Bend Trail. The cat was traced back to Brandenburg, who told police he was angry with the cat for defecating outside of its litter box and accidentally killed it by throwing it.
After realizing the cat was dead, Brandenburg said he put it in the bag and threw it in the bushes behind his apartment building.
Brandenburg faces an additional count of felony bail jumping.