Police view video of Warren woman slamming kitten’s head on dresser, throwing it into a window

Staff report

WARREN

A 26-year-old Fifth Street Southwest woman was released on bond Monday, charged with cruelty to animals after police viewed a video of the woman purportedly slamming a kitten’s head on a dresser and throwing the kitten into a window.

Jessica R. Scharba was arraigned on the misdemeanor charge Monday in Warren Municipal Court. She pleaded not guilty and was released after posting a $2,500 personal recognizance bond, meaning she didn’t have to pay anything. She returns to court at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 20.

Warren police were called to Scharba’s apartment at 3:30 a.m. Monday for a disturbance involving her ex-boyfriend.

When the officer arrived, Scharba claimed that the ex-boyfriend choked her, but the officer could not find any marks on her or other signs of assault.

Scharba asked the police officer to get her kitten from behind the dresser and accused the ex-boyfriend of throwing the kitten there.

But the man said he tried to leave the apartment, and Scharba blocked his path, which he recorded on his cell phone and showed to police.

The video also shows her swinging her fist at him, police said.

Also captured on video was Scharba grabbing the kitten by the neck and then yelling and screaming that she’ll do anything to keep him from leaving the house, police said.

“At which time she slammed the kitten’s head on the dresser several times that was in the living room,” the police report said.

“The video then shows Jessica violently throwing the kitten against the window as hard as she could, causing the baby kitten to fall behind the dresser.”

No further information was available regarding the condition of the kitten.