Ariz. college baseball player allegedly caught on video beating small animal to death with bat
01/27/2023 2:39 pm PST
SURPRISE, Ariz. (TCD) -- A 20-year-old college baseball player was arrested and charged after he was allegedly seen on Snapchat fatally beating a javelina.
According to KTVK-TV, Roger Alexander, a baseball player at Ottawa University, was seen on video parking his car near Waddell Road and Bullard Avenue on Jan. 18 when he blinded the javelina with his headlights. He then allegedly got out of the vehicle and proceeded to hit the animal with a baseball bat, and it began seizing.
Alexander was wearing batting gloves as he hit the animal in the head, KTAR-FM reports.
Afterward, Alexander reportedly turned toward the camera and smiled and laughed.
Police told KTVK the javelina died as a result of the beating.
On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Alexander was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail for animal cruelty, records show.
When asked why he beat the javelina, Alexander reportedly answered that it was a "nuisance animal." However, Alexander allegedly apologized and said he knew the beating was wrong.
In a statement obtained by KSAZ-TV, Kevin Steele, the athletic director for Ottawa University said, "We have investigated the situation and communicated with officials from Arizona Fish and Wildlife, as well as the Surprise Police Department."
Steele continued, "We regret that any one of our student-athletes were involved in this action, but we are handling it properly and privately. Ottawa University will always hold its students to a high standard as we work and serve in the community we live."
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