An Ann Arbor teenager who police say killed his girlfriend's pet rabbit in retaliation was arraigned Monday on a felony animal cruelty charge.

Andre Duane Watley, 17, is accused of killing Midnight, the pet bunny of his 17-year-old girlfriend. Police say the two quarreled at her home Sunday after she confronted him about drug use.

Watley was charged with one count of killing or torturing an animal, punishable by up to four years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of disrupting communication with police and domestic violence. Police reports say Watley yanked the phone from the girl's hands as she called police and then punched her.

Detectives say Watley was retaliating against the girl after she used a baseball bat to smash two bongs used to smoke marijuana. According to police reports, Watley seized the bat after a brief struggle and struck the rabbit once on the head after knocking its cage off the bed.

"It was very unnecessary because he had no reason to kill this animal, but for retaliation," Ann Arbor Police Detective Dave Monroe said.

Ann Arbor police caught Watley running from the girl's home.

Watley told police he had been living with the girl and her mother - who wasn't home at the time - for less than a year.

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He said the argument started over his cell phone use and told police the girl began striking him, so he threatened to kill the rabbit if she didn't stop.

When he was arrested for domestic assault, Watley, who was covered in sweat, responded, "For a rabbit?," reports said.

He remained at the Washtenaw County Jail Monday afternoon on $7,500 bond.

Art Aisner can be reached at aaisner@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6823.

