A day after prosecutors dropped their case against a suspected serial cat-killer, Miami-Dade's top cop said he supports the decision.
``Regardless of the circumstantial evidence in this case, the scientific evidence does not provide a sufficient platform for a rigorous, good-faith prosecution,'' Miami-Dade police director James Loftus said in statement issued on Thanksgiving Day morning.
Loftus' comments differ in tone from an earlier statement issued by the Miami-Dade media relations office on Wednesday after the decision to drop the case against Tyler Weinman, 19, who had been charged a year ago with allegedly killing 19 cats in South Miami-Dade, was publicly announced.
On Wednesday, the department said it continued ``to support the evidence in the Tyler Weinman criminal investigation.''
But Loftus made a point to debunk that statement: ``Previous reports aside, I reserve the privilege to speak for the department on this matter.''
In an interview with The Miami Herald, Loftus said: ``If it's not a viable case -- and it's not -- why push forward? The best thing to do is to take your lumps and move on from there.''
The Miami-Dade police investigated the case that led to 2009 charges against Weinman. He also faced felony charges for burglary and animal cruelty.
Police and prosecutors had relied on the opinions of Miami-Dade's Animal Services department to build a circumstantial and highly publicized case.
The case collapsed when a defense expert discovered animal bite marks, likely from a large dog, on some of the cat carcasses.
``I understand the frustrations of our community and of those who have participated in this case. I say this with all sincerity, I'm proud to be part of a system that prizes objectivity and investigative integrity over any other consideration, such as winning or losing.''
Miami Herald staffer David Ovalle contributed to this report.
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