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Man Arrested for Choking a Pelican to Death in Malibu
A pelican seen at the Venice Pier, 2010 (Photo by portillaj via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
A 30-year-old man was arrested in Malibu for felony animal cruelty on suspicion of having killed a pelican with his bare hands.
According to witnesses, the suspect, later identified as a local transient named Sergio Alvarez, was seen holding a pelican by the throat and choking it with two hands, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A witness flagged down a deputy on patrol to relay what they had seen, noting that they saw the pelican had "flapped its wings in distress until its body went limp and died," and identified Alvarez as the one who had fatally choked the bird. The deputy was able to locate the dead bird's body, which was taken into possession by personnel from the California Wildlife Center.
Alvarez was arrested for felony animal cruelty, and was booked at Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. He is being held on $20,000 bail.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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