MIAMI – A Miami-Dade County man has been taken into custody in connection with a YouTube video that shows a man harassing a pair of endangered Florida panther cubs, federal and state wildlife officials said Friday.
Ken Warren, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's South Florida office, said Alfredo Lopez De Queralta was arrested after authorities served a search warrant at his home.
Recommended Videos
Authorities also searched the southwest Miami-Dade County home of Javier Torres, who has not been arrested.
Warren said the men are suspected of numerous wildlife violations, including interfering with a federally listed endangered species.
The search warrants were served as part of an ongoing investigation into a YouTube video that shows a man, believed to be Torres, invading a Florida panther den and holding two panther cubs. The video has since been removed.
Warren said the acts depicted in the video are violations of Florida law and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is also investigating.
The suspects could face up to a $100,000 fine and a year in prison if convicted.
Warren said Lopez De Queralta was taken into custody because of items found while the warrant was being served. A search of the Miami-Dade County jail website shows that Lopez De Queralta faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was released on bond.