Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
Photos for Headline Surfer / Crista Thistle, 53, of Oak Hill, shown above (jail mug) and below being arrested on Aug. 19, 2021, after tossing her ex-boyfriend's crated cat 'Stanley' into the Intracoastal Waterway to drown, but he jumped into the river 20 seconds after his beloved feline was fully submerged and saved its life. Below, the cat is shown being wrapped in a towel and the nearby rough waters of the Intracoastal Waterway.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
OAK HILL, Fla. -- A 53-year-old woman was arrested on a felony animal cruelty charge in August for allegedly tossing a crate containing her ex-boyfriend's cat into the Intracoastal Waterway to drown.
But there's that old adage about a cat having nine lives.
The cat named "Stanley" was submerged in the river for 20 seconds before its owner jumped into the river to rescue the feline. He then called 9-1-1 to report the confrontational incident.
Christa Anne Thistle was described in an arrest affidavit as being in a "rage" because she wanted for former boyfriend's personal possessions out of her residence that night, including the cat, while he insisted that was not going to happen until the next day as he needed time since they had just broken up the day before.
Here is a synopsis of what deputies encountered when they arrived on the scene at the Riverwood Park Campground at 298 H H Burch Road, Oak Hill, within minutes of the 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 call for help: They found the ex-boyfriend, who was soaking wet towel drying the cat and were in the process of charging Thistle with the animal cruelty felony when she made the verbal threat against him.
Christa Thistle was going to jail regardless, based on the felony charge. Her verbal threat in front of deputies led to her being charged additionally with misdemeanor domestic assault. Her ex-boyfriend filled out and signed a written statement and based on statements made by both of them, deputies determined there was probable cause to arrest Thistle on the felony animal cruelty charge as well as the additional misdemeanor domestic battery charge. She was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.
Christa Thistle was going to jail regardless, based on the felony charge. Her verbal threat in front of deputies led to her being charged additionally with misdemeanor domestic assault. Her ex filled out and signed a written statement and based on statements made by both of them, deputies determined there was probable cause to arrest Thistle on the felony animal cruelty charge as well as the additional misdemeanor domestic battery charge. She was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.
The ex-boyfriend's name was blacked out in the arrest affidavit after he signed a victim's right of confidentiality form under the so-called Marsy's Law, requesting his identity not be made public.
Multimedia:
YouTube embedding / VCSO bodycam footage of Oak Hill woman arrested on animal cruelty charges involving a cat being tossed into the river while in a crate. The cat survived the Aug. 19, 2021 incident.
Criminal Case Update:
Christa Anne Thistle (DOB: 11/19/1967) spent 13 days behind bars at the Volusia County Jail before making bail. She was formally charged with felony domestic battery, which was later changed in court to misdemeanor battery. She is scheduled for trial on Feb. 21 before Volusia County Judge David Foxman.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.