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Case #12326 Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Pet duck's head ripped off
St Paul, MN (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Sep 22, 2007
County: Ramsey
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Scott D. Clark
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
A Denver man who witnesses say ripped the head off a tame duck that lived in a pond in a hotel lobby is under arrest in St. Paul.
A police officer said that Scott Clark, a guest at the Embassy Suites hotel, cornered the duck early Saturday, ripped its head off and turned to onlookers and said: "I'm hungry. I'm gonna eat it."
"He was allegedly drunk," St. Paul police Sgt. John Wuorinen said.
He's being held on suspicion of felony animal cruelty. If convicted he could face up to two years in prison and be fined $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in court Monday to be charged.
A humane society official called the incident "unconscionable," but also criticizes the hotel for keeping live ducks in the lobby.
"I think Embassy Suites needs to take another look at this and review how they keep ducks safe, or use fish like most hotels would use," said Tim Shields. "This sort of behavior by someone is very troubling. Someone who would attack a duck in a public place like that, an animal in a public place like that, supposedly announce they're going to eat it is a pretty serious matter. And in fact, in Minnesota it would be a felony."
Case UpdatesScott D. Clark, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to 21 days in jail and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and serve 80 hours community service for ripping the head off a tame duck at a St. Paul Embassy Suites.
Clark was in Minnesota on business when he attacked the live, tame duck kept in an ornamental pool at the hotel last September.
Clark entered a guilty plea on Jan. 15 to felony animal cruelty for the duck beheading.
After entering his plea, Clark said in a statement he was "extremely sorry" and had never hurt an animal before. Clark had been drinking before the incident.
Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan ordered Clark to complete a psychological examination before his sentencing.
In January, Clark's attorney and the prosecution settled on a sentence of no more that 45 days in jail, two year probation, community service, a $500 fine, restitution and no pet ownership for two years.
Clark is a former government auditor with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from Denver. After the incident last September 22, he spent four days in jail and lost his job.
Clark has already written a letter of apology to Embassy Suites and paid $600 restitution for the duck. | Source: MyFox Twin Cities - March 26, 2008
Update posted on Mar 26, 2008 - 5:30PM |
A former government auditor from Denver who ripped the head off a live, tame duck kept in the ornamental pool in a hotel lobby has pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty.
Scott D. Clark, 26, appeared in a Minnesota court Tuesday and said he was "extremely sorry" and had never hurt an animal before.
Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan, who said Clark apparently had "a substantial amount to drink" before the incident, ordered chemical and psychological evaluations before she sentences Clark in February.
Clark's attorney and the prosecution agreed on a sentence of no more than 45 days in jail, two years probation, community service, a $500 fine, restitution and no pet ownership for two years. The judge ultimately will decide.
A felony conviction would bar Clark from government work.
Clark was an auditor with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was staying at the Embassy Suites in downtown St. Paul on Sept. 22 while in town on business.
A hotel security guard saw Clark walk into the hotel's atrium, where tame ducks were in a duck pond. The Guard said Clark grabbed a duck and killed it by tearing its head off.
As bystanders watched, Clark said, "I'm hungry. I'm going to eat it," according to police. When officers arrived, Clark asked them whether he was in trouble. They told him he was. "Why?" he asked, according to a criminal complaint. "Because I killed it out of season? Big deal, it's just a f****** duck."
The Denver Post reported earlier that Clark was cited in 2006 for illegally killing a turkey in Missouri. He paid a $168 fine in that case, according to the report. | Source: ABC7 News - January 16, 2008
Update posted on Feb 10, 2008 - 9:15AM |
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