Spat over Grays Hill stray cats leads to fight involving a knife and a shovel

A 57-year-old Grays Hill man was arrested after a fight involving a shovel and a knife broke out Tuesday afternoon between a home’s residents over whether to feed stray cats, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office report.

The suspect had allegedly been feeding the strays near Big Road, a move that made one of the women who lived in the house upset, according to the report. As the argument escalated, the woman’s brother and the suspect got into a fight, the report said. Both claimed to be acting in self-defense.

The suspect was allegedly armed with a knife. The woman’s brother told deputies he tackled the suspect to protect himself and his sister, according to the report. The suspect told deputies at one point the woman’s brother had a shovel.

The cat-loving suspect was charged with a misdemeanor count of third degree assault and battery, according to online Beaufort County court records. He was released on $1,087.50 bond on Thursday.

This story was originally published October 26, 2017 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Spat over Grays Hill stray cats leads to fight involving a knife and a shovel."