Florida man ‘Redbeard’ steals $1,800 parrot, abandons it, authorities say

A Florida man identified domestically as “Redbeard” is dealing with costs after he kidnapped his roommate’s parrot and left it injured and alone at a bus cease, authorities mentioned.

Justin Peters, 40, of Summerland Key, was arrested Tuesday after pilfering the eclectus parrot — named Piper — from a 37-year-old girl in June and has been charged with grand theft and animal cruelty, in line with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Workplace.

The $1,800 chicken’s proprietor advised police that she instructed Peters to by no means let it out of her cage or take away it from their residence. On June 14, she known as police to say Piper had been stolen.

The day earlier than that, a witness advised deputies that he noticed a person, later recognized as Peters, at a bus cease and later famous that he was gone — however left the chicken behind on a bench.

The person scooped up the parrot and known as authorities and tried to find the chicken’s proprietor, police mentioned.

Piper was returned to her proprietor and a veterinarian later discovered that it had suffered damaged bones, a dislocated hip and blunt drive trauma to 1 facet of her physique. A GoFundMe has since raised over $500 to assist pay the chicken’s medical payments.

Surveillance video later tied Peters to the world of the bus cease and he was taken into custody Tuesday.