A Reno, Nevada man, William Ohlson, 33, has been arrested on new animal cruelty charges after allegedly adopting two kittens with the intent to harm them, just weeks before his apprehension in connection with the torture of a kitten in San Francisco. Ohlson was taken into custody Thursday at gunpoint in Reno after skipping a court appearance and a bench warrant being issued for his arrest.
Authorities stated that Ohlson had adopted the two three-month-old kittens, Haven and Nola, through the Biggest Little Cat Rescue's adoption program at a PetSmart in Reno approximately two weeks prior to his arrest. The rescue organization later reported that Haven was found abandoned inside a carrier in a dumpster near Ohlson's residence. Ohlson had reportedly told adoption center staff that he was adopting the kittens as a birthday surprise for his girlfriend.
Representatives from Washoe County Regional Animal Services informed the rescue center that Ohlson was already on the agency's "Do Not Adopt" list. Ohlson is currently being held at the Washoe County Detention Center on charges related to resisting an officer and failing to obey a court order.
This latest arrest follows charges stemming from an alleged incident on July 1, where Ohlson is accused of violently torturing a kitten in an ATM vestibule in San Francisco. He had failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment in Superior Court on that case.
Court records indicate Ohlson has a history of legal issues dating back to 2016, with previous cases involving drug, property, and other serious charges, as well as multiple failures to appear in court. In August 2020, Ohlson pleaded guilty to attempting to kill or torture a kitten at a Walmart in Reno. He had previously pleaded guilty in an older case and entered a court-run drug rehabilitation program, but he has two open criminal cases predating the recent charges. The current case involves three new charges, including allegedly killing or abusing an animal, neglecting an animal, and obstructing police.