A deputy in Marion County, Florida, saw his DUI stop completely hijacked when he heard the meowing of a kitten. The little guy’s purrs eventually led him to his rescue and his forever home.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), the incident occurred on Saturday, July 19. At around 12:58 a.m., Cpl. Robert Young had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. 441.
The individual behind the wheel was accused of speeding and failing to maintain its lane. Therefore, a DUI investigation began at the scene.
However, during the stop, both Cpl. Young and PIO Strong heard a “faint sound.” It was a kitten meowing from across U.S. 441.
DUI Stop Hijacked
Cpl. Young immediately attempted to rescue the kitten, as shown in the footage attached above. After all, a highway is no place for a kitten, as beautiful as it may be.
Unfortunately, the kitten was faster than the deputy’s desire to catch it. Therefore, Cpl. Young continued to carry out his DUI investigation.
Just as he was wrapping things up, the little kitten, once again, reemerged, and the majestic meowing resumed. This time around, the bold cat attempted to cross U.S. 441.
Kitten Rescued
Fortunately for the little feline, his instincts were sharp enough that he was able to avoid oncoming traffic. The kitten ended up in a nearby ditch, and PIO Strong was able to locate him and rescue him.
Cpl. Young, probably completely entranced by the lovely animal, decided to house him for the night. He and his family welcomed him with open arms, and the MCSO thanked him for “going above and beyond” to ensure that the kitten had a place to stay.
Soon, the little guy became quite the sensation at the MCSO. He was even nicknamed Lil Billy, all thanks to his “adorable mustache.”
Forever Home
Fortunately, Lil Billy managed to find his forever home quite fast. One of the MCSO’s Evidence Property Technicians, Cody, took him in and welcomed him with open arms.
The MCSO thanked Voices of Change Animal League in Ocala, an animal welfare organization. They provided Cody with everything he needed to house Lil Billy and to grant him a fresh and loving start.
Regarding the DUI suspect, the MCSO didn’t reveal further details about the suspect or whether he was arrested or charged. Either way, he was blessed with the presence of Lil Billy, so if he was jailed, at least he did so with a smile.