**Man Arrested for Allegedly Beating Rooster Outside South Suburban Grocery Store**
JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) — A man was arrested on Saturday afternoon for allegedly beating a rooster outside a grocery store in south suburban Joliet, police reported.
Officers responded to Gonzalez Fresh Produce around 3:45 p.m., where they found 39-year-old Francisco Arreola holding a tan, black, and white rooster. The rooster had a rope leash tied to its leg and appeared injured, with visible cuts and bleeding on the top of its head and blood on its feathers.
Arreola initially claimed the rooster was his pet and that he was training it to fight. He later stated that he was trying to teach the animal to defend itself.
A witness reported seeing Arreola strike the rooster multiple times after attempting to place it into a shopping cart outside the store.
Arreola was taken into custody and charged with Felony Aggravated Animal Cruelty, Misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals, Animals in Entertainment Violation, and Obstructing Justice. Authorities also noted that Arreola had two active arrest warrants out of Kane County.
An animal control officer took protective custody of the injured rooster. The Joliet Police Department Animal Crimes Team responded to assist with the investigation and to coordinate veterinary care for the bird.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/francisco-arreola-charged-animal-cruelty-beating-rooster-outside-gonzalez-fresh-produce-joliet-police-department/18697677/