On Sunday night, police in Buffalo saw 51-year-old Gary Korkuc of Cheektowaga, New York, roll through a stop sign . . . so they pulled him over.  As they spoke with him, they heard a sad, desperate meowing coming from his trunk.

Gary opened the trunk.  And inside, the cops found a four-year-old, black-and-white cat . . . who was, quote, "marinating" in a mix of crushed red peppers, chili pepper, salt and oil.

Eventually, Gary admitted that the cat had been, quote, "mean" to him, and, quote, "possessive, greedy and wasteful" . . . so, as a punishment, Gary decided to EAT him.

Gary was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.
The cat . . . whose name is Navarro . . . was given to the local SPCA center, which is the same spot where Gary adopted him back in May.  They gave Navarro two baths and say that he's doing well after his near-dinner experience.