An Indiana University student has admitted tossing a guinea pig tied to a makeshift parachute out of an eighth-floor dormitory, police said. The 19-year-old student, who could face a felony charge of animal cruelty, told IU police that Thursday's incident was a "prank gone bad." The parachute was constructed from a garbage bag, dental floss and masking tape.
IU police officer Brice Boembeke said the student told police he had intended to retrieve his pet once it floated to safety, but it got stuck in a tree on the way down.
Janitors at Briscoe Quadrangle rescued the animal, which was slightly injured.
Boembeke said the student admitted throwing his pet out the window of an eighth-floor dorm room across the hallway from his own as other students egged him on.
"It seemed like one of those things where somebody had an idea, and it was taken to the next level," he said. "It definitely got out of hand."
A felony charge of animal cruelty has been forwarded to the Monroe County prosecutor's office for review, but no charge had been filed as of Friday afternoon.
Jason Eller, a Bloomington animal control officer, said the student could be ordered to pay a $500 fine for cruelty to an animal. Boembeke said the student might also face some type of disciplinary action from IU.
The guinea pig is doing well at the Bloomington Animal Shelter, where staff named the rodent Noel in honor of the holiday season, said shelter manager Leigh Ann Hoffacker. Case UpdatesPosted on May 25, 2005 - 9:48PM | A judge has dismissed an animal cruelty charge against an Indiana University student who taped a parachute to a guinea pig and dropped it out a dormitory window.
The judge dropped the charge against 19-year-old David Feldscott since Feldscott had already paid a $500 civil fine to animal control officers.
Police say Feldscott and some friends sent the guinea pig skydiving out an eighth-floor dormitory window last December. The students said they intended to retrieve the animal when it reached the ground, but it got stuck in a tree instead.
The guinea pig was rescued and taken to the Bloomington Animal Shelter, where it was named Noel in honor of the holiday season. | Source: NBC5 - May 25, 2005 |
References | IndyStar - Dec 18, 2004 | | CBS Channel 2 - Dec 17, 2004 | | The Indy Channel - Dec 18, 2004 | | WHAS 11 - Dec 18, 2004 | | WHAS 11 - Dec 17, 2004 | | NBC San Diego - Dec 17, 2004 | | WAVE 3 - Dec 17, 2004 | | KPVI - Dec 17, 2004 | | KRON - Dec 17, 2004 | | WNBC - Dec 17, 2004 | | WRTV - Dec 17, 2004 |
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