Alleged cat kicker facing new charges

ALBION, N.Y. (WIVB) - The man who allegedly drop-kicked a kitten, killing it, is facing new charges after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer in Albion.

Police say Richard Keihl, Jr., 30, was driving on Clarendon Street in the village on Friday when a woman called authorities to report a road road incident where Keihl had allegedly tried to run her off the road. Officers caught up to Keihl on East Avenue and say he pulled into a parking lot and took off on foot.

While chasing him down, one officer fell and was hurt. But police eventually caught up to Keihl and put him under arrest. He is being held in the Orleans County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, driving while ability impaired, unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation and resisting arrest.

Keihl is already facing charges of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and endangering the welfare of a child. He had been arrested in June and accused of picking up a kitten at the Heritage Meadows Apartment in Carlton and kicking the animal across the complex. The kitten, owned by a tenant, died and the incident happened in front of a 9-year-old girl. His trial in that case will be later this year or early next year.