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Police: Turtle set afire on live video stream, 1 arrest made

DOTHAN, Ala. – Alabama police say they’ve arrested a teenager who allegedly set fire to a live turtle during a live video stream on social media.

Dothan police say 19-year-old James Terrance Allen is charged with animal cruelty following the incident Wednesday. They say officers arrested Allen after numerous social media users called police.

A Facebook video shows a man with a live turtle and a bottle of alcohol saying he will set the animal on fire if users give him 100 views. He eventually douses the animal with liquid and sets it afire.

Police say the turtle they named “Leonardo” has survived and is expected to make a full recovery.

Court records aren’t yet available to show if Allen has a lawyer.

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