HICKORY, N.C. —  A woman who said she saved a kitten tossed from a vehicle onto U.S. 321 in Hickory last month has been charged with animal cruelty.

Police arrested 31-year-old Heather Nicole Bradshaw on Wednesday and charged her with three counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals, filing a false police report and resisting a public official.

Officer Paul Murphy says police began investigating Bradshaw's story two weeks ago. She had said she was able to save one of four kittens thrown on the road June 13.

Bradshaw told the Hickory Daily Record she can't believe police would think she killed the other three kittens.

Capt. Clyde Deal says investigators began to be suspicious when they noticed numerous inconsistencies in her story. He said the animals injuries were inconsistent with being struck by a vehicle.