Las Vegas Tourist Allegedly Choked Flamingos While Laughing
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A shocking incident unfolded at a Las Vegas hotel when a tourist was apprehended for allegedly torturing flamingos, reportedly laughing and snapping photos during the ordeal.

Mitchell Fairbarn, a 33-year-old visitor from Ontario, Canada, faces four counts of willful and malicious torture, maiming, or killing of an animal. The charges stem from a disturbing event on March 3 at The Flamingo Las Vegas hotel and casino, situated on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

According to an arrest report obtained by Oxygen, Fairbarn allegedly ignored “No Trespassing” signs and unlawfully entered the hotel’s wildlife habitat, where he targeted the Chilean flamingos.

Surveillance footage detailed in the report reveals that Fairbarn emerged from behind some bushes and forcefully pulled a flamingo to the ground. Despite the bird’s attempts to escape, he repeatedly pinned it down, even taking a photo of the distressed animal. The flamingo eventually broke free after being cornered on a small island.

The arrest report further describes Fairbarn’s pursuit of other flamingos, involving him crawling through water and using aggressive tactics like holding the birds down, dragging them, and seizing them by the neck.

In a particularly alarming detail, Fairbarn was seen carrying a seemingly lifeless flamingo into a hotel elevator up to his room on the 14th floor, as documented in the arrest report.

Police found a large bloody feather and smaller pink feathers in Fairbarn’s hotel room, according to the results of a search warrant cited in the arrest report. Meanwhile, footage from Fairbarn’s own cell phone, which was cited in that report, showed him choking a bird—who was screaming and crying—while laughing and saying, “I’m taking it home.” 

One flamingo was recovered in deep water, appearing in “poor condition and non-viable” read the report, and was removed from the location. Meanwhile, a bird named Peachy had multiple injuries to his wings, one of which might require stitches. 

Fairbarn told police in the arrest report that he was drunk and willingly bypassed warning signs to help a “distressed” flamingo. He said he popped its wing into place as a “good dead.”

While Fairbarn admitted to “repulsive” actions, according to the arrest, “he doesn’t remember chasing the other flamingos around, due to his level of intoxication.”

The flamingos cannot swim or fly, and they are more than 40 years old, per a police case report reviewed by Oxygen.com.  

In a statement to the New York Post, a spokesperson from the organization said: “Our beloved birds, including Peachy, who was cruelly taken from the habitat, are currently in the care of dedicated veterinarians and our extraordinary Flamingo animal care team. We are hopeful they will make a full recovery.” 

An attorney for Fairbarn did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen. Fairbarn’s next court date is May 6, according to a courtroom video published by News 3 Las Vegas. It is unclear whether Fairbarn has entered a plea. A spokesperson from Caesars Entertainment Corp. did not immediately return a request for comment from Oxygen.

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