Raccoon-killing suspect posts bond

Joseph Amico charged with animal cruelty

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.The 26-year-old man charged with killing a raccoon by hitting it with a two-by-four bonded out of jail Friday morning.

Police charged Joseph Amico with animal cruelty. He offered no comment as he left jail to be fitted for an ankle monitor (pictured, right).

"This appears to be extremely cruel, gratuitous violence toward the animal," Broward Circuit Court Judge John Hurley told Amico during a hearing Thursday.

The incident happened in the 6800 block of N. State Road 7. The video showed the raccoon come out from under a dumpster and reach out for food. Police said Amico then hit the raccoon.

The stunned animal scurried into the garbage and died.

"It (the arrest affidavit) says the animal never attacked you, the animal never came at you," said Hurley. "And, it says at some point, you took a swing at the raccoon with a two-by-four, fracturing its skull, and causing it to die a slow, painful death."

Hurley later raised Amico's bond to $25,000 after noting his criminal history, which included prison time for burglary and drug trafficking.

"Based on your criminal record and the level of violence, most likely you'll go back to prison if convicted on this," Hurley said.