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A city man was charged with eight felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after allegedly disposing of live kittens in gas station trash cans on three separate occasions.
Joseph E. Frank Jr., 66, was arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals in addition to the eight felony counts. He remains free on unsecured $50,000 bail.
Staff at the 1701 Seventh Ave. Sheetz reported finding four live kittens in their dumpster. A subsequent investigation determined a man, later identified as Frank, had placed the kittens in a grocery bag, then put that bag in a trash can adjacent to the Sheetz's gas pumps, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Officers were informed of a similar incident occurring on July 6 at the same location. On July 7, staff at the 700 Chestnut Ave. Sheetz reported a third incident. In each of these incidents, very young kittens were determined to have been placed in grocery bags, which were then tied off and placed into trash cans at the Sheetz's gas pumps, the police report stated.
Officers reviewed security footage provided by Sheetz and saw a gold Jeep Compass dropping bags in trash cans on the dates of the incidents. The Jeep was found to be owned by Frank, whose driver's license provided information consistent with the appearance of the suspect on camera. When confronted by police at his residence, Frank allegedly immediately confessed to having wrapped the kittens in grocery bags and putting them in the trash, the report states.
At the Altoona Police Department, Frank gave officers a brief handwritten confession in which he allegedly admitted to "feeling overwhelmed and not thinking clearly" and that "(he) took the wrong path to solve the problem." In an interview, Frank said he regularly fed stray cats near his residence. Those cats then produced several litters of kittens before abandoning them on his property. Not wanting to outright kill the kittens and knowing they would likely not survive due to their parents not protecting and feeding them, Frank said he wrapped them in a bag and deposited them at Sheetz, the report states.
When asked by officers if he was aware of various alternatives like the Humane Society, Frank said he was and was simply overwhelmed and not thinking clearly at the time of the incidents. In total, eight kittens were placed into tied grocery bags, then deposited into Sheetz garbage cans by Frank. One kitten was dead at discovery, three died after being given to the Humane Society and four survived the ordeal, according to the affidavit.
Frank is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 19 in front of Jones.