COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — With an assist from some concerned social media activists, Chicago Police have arrested a Greater Grand Crossing man after he allegedly recorded himself pouring scalding water onto a cat.
Leon Teague, 18, is charged with animal cruelty and animal torture.
He appeared in bond court Friday, where Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas banned Teague from using social media or interacting with animals as he awaits trial.
"Let me make myself perfectly clear," Chiampas said. "You are not to be on any form of social media, under your name or a fake name. None. At all. Period."
Chiampas said Teague could be released on his own recognizance, pending trial, if he qualifies for electronic monitoring from the Cook County Sheriff's Office. If not, Teague will be responsible for $10,000 bail.
Eight friends and relatives, including Teague's mother, were in court Friday to show support. They declined to speak with press.
Teague was arrested about 2:30 p.m. Thursday after police identified him as the man who posted a Facebook video of himself boiling water. He allegedly lured a cat onto his porch and tossed the scalding water onto the cat, according to an arrest report.
The cat is then seen screaming and running off the porch, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing Friday.
The video was posted under the alias "Glock Boy Murdoc," court records show. Police were notified of its existence by animal-rights activists, and tracked Teague to his mother's house in the 6900 block of South King Drive.
Teague admitted to police that he posted the video.
"The video was a cat that somebody poured water on," Teague said, according to an arrest report. "If you think I did it, lock me up. S---. I know the system. If I admit to this, I'm going to jail. Glock Boy Murdoc is my Facebook name, and people come in and out of my apartment all the time."
Warning: The video is graphic:
According to Antonietti, police believe Teague's voice matches the male voice pouring water and taunting the cat in the video. A man's arm is visible in the video, but viewers cannot see the abuser's face.
While police were at Teague's home Thursday, they saw a scalded cat in the area, but were unable to catch it, Antonietti said. The cat was still alive as of Thursday afternoon.
Lindsey Lou, an animal rights activist from St. Louis, led the charge in trying to find the man. She said the video was posted to a local "trap, neuter, return" advocacy group site.
According to Lou, the group worked to determine the man's name and location, and realized that he attended a public high school in Chicago. From there, group members started to contact local authorities.
The cat in the video is next to a litter box and food bowl when it is doused in boiling water.
"Don't come back," the man yells as the cat yelps and attempts to flee. "Die, b----."
Lou said the video was one of the worst she's seen.
"I deal with a lot of abused animals," Lou said. "It was one of the most horrendous things I've ever seen."
Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido posted in the Facebook group "alley cat allies" to tell the advocates that an arrest had been made. He said officers saw the cat near 69th Street and King Drive, but attempts to catch it were unsuccessful.
"Unfortunately, he/she ran off when officers tried to catch him/her," he wrote.
Garrido said the work of the online advocates was a great help to investigators.
"We would also like to thank all the concerned citizens out there in the social media world for bringing to our attention quickly gathering information to assist in the investigation," Garrido said.
Teague is currently on juvenile probation for residential burglary, prosecutors said. He has a separate pending juvenile case for residential burglary. This is his first arrest.
Teague's public defender on Friday said Teague is a senior at Dunbar High School who hopes to graduate this year.
"I hope he graduates, too," Judge Chiampas said.
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