Police: Black cat crosses suspect's path, rats him out


              This photo provided  by Ephrata Police Department shows Jonathan Michael Steffy.  The Ephrata, Pa., Police Department posted on its Facebook page that officers were searching for a Steffy last Nov. 2016 over an outstanding bench warrant. They found the 23-year-old in a backyard but he fled. As they searched the area, one officer noticed a black cat in a nearby yard staring intently at a shed. The officer opened it and found the suspect.  (Ephrata Police Department via AP)
This photo provided by Ephrata Police Department shows Jonathan Michael Steffy. The Ephrata, Pa., Police Department posted on its Facebook page that officers were searching for a Steffy last Nov. 2016 over an outstanding bench warrant. They found the 23-year-old in a backyard but he fled. As they searched the area, one officer noticed a black cat in a nearby yard staring intently at a shed. The officer opened it and found the suspect. (Ephrata Police Department via AP)

EPHRATA, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania police department says a black cat was lucky for one of its officers tracking down a fugitive.

The Ephrata Police Department posted on its Facebook page that officers were searching for Jonathan Michael Steffy last month over an outstanding bench warrant.

They found the 23-year-old in a backyard but he fled. As they searched the area, one officer noticed a black cat in a nearby yard staring intently at a shed. The officer checked that shed, but it was empty. The officer again saw the cat, and it became apparent it was staring at a different shed behind the officer.

The officer opened that shed and found Steffy.

Police say their thankful for any crime-fighting help, "whether human or feline!"

It wasn't clear if Steffy has an attorney.

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