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A Florida father and daughter have been arrested after a video of a raccoon being burned alive went viral.
A video, which was originally posted to Facebook but has since been deleted, showed a raccoon trapped inside a dumpster. A woman could be seen filming the creature while it bared its teeth, WFLA reported.
A second video was then uploaded, showing the burning remains of the animal. The woman could be heard laughing in the background.
According to WFLA, the woman said in the video: "Some people say throw an apple with bleach in there. We just toasted his a**. Who's hungry?"
In Florida it is a crime to kill an animal cruelly. The law applies to all wildlife, not only household pets.
Animal cruelty can result in penalties of a year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. In some cases, if other aggravating factors are involved, a person could be imprisoned for up to five years. They could also receive a maximum fine of $10,000.
Alicia Kincheloe and her father, Roddy Kincheloe, of Sarasota County, have now been arrested in connection to the incident.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said: "Many of you asked about our investigation into a disturbing video that's gone viral on social media depicting a raccoon being burned alive in a dumpster. Today we share another video that's likely to go viral depicting the arrests of Alicia Kincheloe and her father, Roddy Kincheloe."
In the video shared by the Sheriff's Office, the Kincheloes can be seen entering the police department.
The Sheriff's Office said on Facebook that the arrests followed one of the most "extensive investigations ever conducted" by their Agricultural Unit.
Both are "behind bars" and face felony charges of Aggravated Animal Cruelty, the statement said.
The Sheriff's Office said it will provide updates shortly. Newsweek has contacted it for an update.
Raccoons are common across Florida. They are quite often found in urban areas and can wander into properties in search of shelter of food. Because of this, they are sometimes seen as a nuisance.
They also carry diseases which can be infectious, meaning they must be removed from residential areas. To do this, residents should call a pest control company.
Many residents take it into their own hands to get rid of the animals. This can sometimes result in cruel practices. Some try to kill them, instead of calling humane rescue organizations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife commission said "lethal action" should be considered as a last resort. Racoons are intelligent animals and are beneficial to the native ecosystem. This is because they eat insects and rodents, and act as a form of pest control.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more