Vernon Hill man arrested for killing opossum while on police ride along

A Vernon Hill man, on an approved ride along with a Danville police officer, wound up being arrested for killing an opossum while on that ride.

Lt. John Henderson issued a news release Tuesday that said Evan Bryce Schuler, 22, was participating in the department’s ride-along program on June 20. The officer stopped to refuel on Monument Street, and Schuler left the vehicle.

“Schuler jumped from the front passenger seat of the police vehicle without saying a word and ran toward an opossum that was running along the perimeter fence,” the news release said. “Schuler kicked the opossum several times, killing it.”

When two officers confronted Schuler, he told them he lives on a farm and opossums routinely kill his chickens. Schuler told the officers his behavior was “instinctive.”

Following an investigation, Schuler was charged with cruelty to animals. He was arrested Tuesday and released on a summons to appear in Danville General District Court.