A heavily inebriated man was arrested this morning after entering a Pet Valu store in downtown Cincinnati and devouring at least 16 live fishes in front of horrified and powerless employees.
Around 9:45 this morning, the Cincinnati Police Department received a call from a pet store concerning an intoxicated customer allegedly harming animals and causing mayhem.
Officers were dispatched on-site and found 43-year old Gary Harrison dunking his head in a fish tank, trying to catch fishes with his mouth.
He was arrested and charged with 21 criminal charges including animal cruelty, petty theft, and public intoxication.
Store employee and witness, Carol Sanders, says he ate several fishes before the police arrived, including a dozen goldfish, two clownfishes, and two Siamese fighting fishes.
“He was grabbing fishes with his bare hands and swallowing them whole. I tried to stop him, but he was a big guy and too drunk to care even when I hit him with my handbag.”
Ms. Sanders says the accused also resisted the police officers and had to be tased several times.
“He was so obsessed with the fishes that he ignored and pushed back everyone, including the police. They had to tase him about 10 or 12 times before he cooperated.”
Pet store employee Carol Sanders described the incident as traumatizing, saying she felt powerless to stop a cruel and stupid act.
Mr. Harrison’s blood-alcohol content (BAC) was measured at 0.49 g of alcohol for every 100 ml of blood, more than six times the state’s legal limit. Traces of marijuana and cocaine were also found.
Due to his intoxication level, his bail hearing was postponed to Friday and he will remain in detention until then.
If found guilty on all charges, he faces a total of 45 years in prison and a fine of $115,000.