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Topics: Animals, Animal Cruelty, Crime, US News
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: Animals, Animal Cruelty, Crime, US News
Seagulls can certainly be annoying pests at times, but one father’s overreaction has put him into serious hot water after an incident in New Jersey.
What should have been a nice day out turned into quite a dramatic spectacle.
On 22 July, the North Wildwood Police Department confirmed a father was involved in an incident that saw him arrested and face multiple charges.
New Jersey Man Franklin Zeigler, 29, of Cape May, was at Surfside Pier in Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks on the Wildwood boardwalk on July 6 when he decided to harshly deal with a seagull.
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The seagull had tried to make off with his daughter’s fries and, in a fit of rage, Zeigler took things into his own hands.
In a shocking act of animal cruelty, he allegedly grabbed the bird and ripped its head off from its body.
According to a Newark Star-Ledger report, after allegedly pulling the head off the seagull, he asked multiple Morey’s Pier employees for a trash bag while holding the dead bird in his hands.
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Writing in a press release on Facebook, police said: “During the investigation, Zeigler was irate and uncooperative with officers on an unrelated investigation, which resulted in his arrest for Disorderly Conduct & Resisting Arrest, both Disorderly Persons offenses.”
Police gathered pictures of the deceased animal and Zeigler admitted on police body cams that he killed the seagull after it attempted to take his child’s fries.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, authorities hit the father with more charges.
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“As a result of the investigation, Zeigler was additionally charged with 3rd degree Animal Cruelty," the statement continued. "Zeigler was placed on a summons on the above charges as per bail reform and released pending a future court date."
Police are still calling on the public for more information about the incident, and in the statement said: "If you have any information related to this case or any other criminal activities, please contact the North Wildwood Police Department Detective Division at (609) 522-2411.
"The public can also provide tips anonymously by using our TEXT-A-TIP by texting TIP NWPD, followed by your message, to 888777."
If you see an animal in distress and/or in need of help, call 911 if a crime is in progress. You can also visit a directory of animal abuse investigation agencies by state here.