A Canadian man was arrested early Tuesday morning on multiple animal abuse charges after allegedly grabbing and injuring flamingos at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, according to an arrest report from Metro Police.
Authorities said they received a call around 6 a.m. reporting animal cruelty after a man, identified as Mitchell Fairbarn, allegedly broke into the flamingo habitat and harmed several birds.
Police reviewed video surveillance, which reportedly shows Fairbarn grabbing a flamingo around 5 a.m. and then taking a second flamingo at approximately 5:07 a.m. before entering an elevator.
According to the report, Fairbarn is seen in the video laughing and saying,
“I’m taking it home.”
When questioned by police, Fairbarn claimed he had entered the habitat because he saw a flamingo in distress and attempted to “pop” the bird’s wing back into place. Officials said his actions ruptured the bird’s blood supply, causing serious injury.
Authorities concluded that Fairbarn willfully and maliciously injured a federally protected migratory species. He was arrested and charged with four counts of willful, malicious torture, maiming, or killing of an animal.
Fairbarn’s initial court appearance is Monday, March 9.
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