Fairfax police have made an arrest in the case of several barnyard animals living at Frying Pan Park that were slashed in April and May. They have charged a 17-year-old Herndon teenager in connection with the attacks which took place on May 26 and April 26.
Investigators received a tip on Friday and officers arrested the teen on Saturday. He has been charged with four felony counts of maiming animals, three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of unlawful entry.
The charges relate to two incidents: slashings of three horses on April 26 and slashings of two goats, a calf and a chicken on May 26. According to police, several of the animals had no fear of humans and "would approach anyone who came near, thinking they might be fed."
"Everyone wonders what’s the motivation, why did this happen? That's something we can’t discuss right now," said Lucy Caldwell of Fairfax County police. "We can say we recovered a weapon we believe was used -- a 22-inch machete."
Children who visit Frying Pan Park learn what farms were like in the Depression era and from where their food comes. The slashed horses were used in a riding program for people with special needs.
