A Sacramento man accused of beating a nearly blind and deaf stray cat to death has refused to comment on the allegations. Adrian Cruz, 30, is facing felony animal cruelty charges in connection with the death of the animal, which has shocked the local community.

Cruz was tight-lipped as he exited the Sacramento Superior Court on July 2, offering a brief "no comment" when approached by reporters. Prosecutors allege that Cruz is the individual captured on a homeowner's security camera footage heading toward an area where stray cats are known to gather for feeding. The battered body of one such animal was discovered at the scene shortly after the video was recorded on April 21.

According to Sacramento County Animal Care officer Zoe McCurnin, Cruz was arrested after the homeowner reported seeing him on her security camera again a week after the initial incident. "He walked up, tried to grab one of the cats," McCurnin stated. "Immediately, it ran away, and he went back to his car."

McCurnin subsequently conducted a stakeout for several weeks in hopes of observing the suspect again. She was able to alert other officers when Cruz allegedly returned for a third time. Hiding in her personal vehicle around 3 a.m., McCurnin reportedly saw the man return and quickly notified county sheriff's deputies, who had patrol cars in the vicinity.

Sacramento County Animal Care Officer Zoe McCurnin helped apprehend the suspect after staking out the neighborhood for weeks after the initial incident

Authorities executed a search warrant at Cruz's residence, where they discovered clothing matching that seen in the surveillance footage. "The gloves he had on had cat fur all over them, everything to indicate that this was the correct suspect," McCurnin told Fox 40.

Cruz was arrested on June 2 for felony animal cruelty charges. "It doesn't matter if this was just a stray cat and the lady didn't technically own the cat, it's still a life that he took away and it could result in even more horrific things that this person's possibly doing later on," McCurnin said.

It doesn't matter if this was just a stray cat and the lady didn't technically own the cat, it's still a life that he took away and it could result in even more horrific things that this person's possibly doing later on, she said

He was released on his own recognizance on June 4, with the condition that he attend future hearings. Cruz is scheduled to return to court in early August.