A guest at a Las Vegas hotel was arrested on 3 March for allegedly abusing a flamingo.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested a 33-year-old Ontario resident after he allegedly abducted a flamingo from a hotel's habitat,8 News Nowreported. The suspect, who was later identified as Fairbarn, has beencharged with four counts of felony animal abuse.
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino reported the incident to authorities at around 6:00am 3 March. Hotel security had already detained the suspect at that time, after he had taken the bird to his hotel room.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect trespassing into the hotel's flamingo habitat at around 5:00am, perFox 5. He allegedly singled out and grabbed a bird named Peachy by the legs. The suspect also allegedly pinned down another bird and injured other animals. The footage also showed the suspect returning to his hotel room with the captured animal.
The man wrapped the bird in a shirt and took it to the hotel's 14th floor, police stated. Timestamped footage showed the suspect laughing while the bird cried out, per the arrest report. He also allegedly grabbed the bird by the neck at one point.
Police secured a search warrant for the suspect's room and found 'a large bloody feather.' During his interview, the suspect told police he was drunk during the incident.
The suspect said that he entered the habitat when he saw one of the flamingoes in distress. He claimed that he actually 'popped' one of the bird's wings into place.
'He stated he knows that "popping" the wing back into its place [is] a common practice for birds, such as ducks,' police said. 'He has knowledge of this because he is a farm boy.'
Animal Protection Services told the suspect that he injured the bird by 'pulling the wing out of its body.' It was later confirmed that one of the animal's wings was clipped.
Upon inspecting the suspect's phone, police said they found 'several photos and videos' showing him torturing the bird. In one of the videos, the suspect also said he intends to bring the bird home as a pet.
Source: International Business Times UK
