Pigeon beaten against car - Whaleyville, VA

Friday, Jul 14, 2006

County: Suffolk City

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Juan Lopez

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A naked man clutching a pigeon was arrested over the weekend after beating the bird against a car.

Two Whaleyville residents had just pulled into their driveway on July 14 night when Juan Lopez, 30, of Kellam Road in Virginia Beach came up and repeatedly pounded the pigeon on the car, police said. The people got out of the car and went to a neighbor's house, where they called the police.

After a short chase, police caught Lopez in nearby woods.

"I'm not sure whether he's mentally disturbed or under the influence of narcotics, but he was obviously having some sort of issue that night," said Lt. Debbie George, Suffolk Police Department spokeswoman.

Police discovered that Lopez had destroyed two of the homeowners' bird cages, freeing 15 small chickens and four pigeons. He killed four birds, George said.

Lopez was treated at Sentara Obici Hospital for cuts and scratches. He's charged with burglary, destruction of property, and larceny of poultry.

Case Updates

A man who took off his clothes and beat a dead pigeon on a car outside a home in Suffolk has been sentenced to a year in prison for animal cruelty. Juan Pablo Lopez of Virginia Beach -- who was 30 years old at the time of the incident last July -- was sentenced yesterday by a Suffolk judge. Lopez pleaded guilty last year to burglary, obstruction of justice and animal cruelty. He received no time for the burglary and obstruction charges. Police say Lopez broke into the home, destroyed bird cages and freed some chickens and pigeons and killed several of them. The homeowners pulled into their driveway and saw Lopez come running out naked, bashed a dead bird against their car and ran away.

Source: WAVY - Feb 6, 2007 Update posted on Feb 6, 2007 - 4:12PM

References

• The Virgnia Pilot - July 18, 2006

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