Two Maine police officers allegedly beat porcupines to death with their batons while on duty, outlets report.
Addison Cox, 27, and Michael Rolerson, 30, who were fired in September, admitted to investigators that they attacked the animals on several occasions in June, estimating they killed 11 in total, The Courier Gazette reported.
A third officer allegedly recorded one of the incidents and shared it on Snapchat groups within the Rockland Police Department.
Rolerson allegedly told colleagues that he sometimes used pepper spray on the porcupines, before or after he beat them, the Gazette reported.
A fellow officer reported the incidents in August, and Rolerson and Cox were fired Sept. 22, the outlet reported. The officer who shared video to Snapchat is on administrative leave.
Cox and Rolerson have been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and night hunting, Bangor Daily News reports, and will appear in court Nov. 9.
