A 36-year-old man from Los Angeles County has been taken into custody for allegedly causing harm to a beloved Great Egret in San Bernardino by throwing a rock at the bird, resulting in its unfortunate death.
The distressing incident occurred on October 23 at Lake Gregory in Crestline, as witnessed by Kaylyn Donica who recorded the event on her cellphone. Donica, who was fishing with a friend at the time, noticed two individuals throwing rocks at ducks in the lake. She intervened and asked them to stop, which they did momentarily. However, things escalated later on when one of the men targeted the Great Egret.
Donica sensed trouble brewing and decided to capture the unfolding events on video. The footage captured Jeremy Jansen, a resident of Claremont, throwing a rock at the bird. Although his first attempt missed, the second throw struck the Great Egret, causing it to fall into the water. The distressing incident left Donica feeling a mix of shock and anger towards the perpetrator.
After the bird was knocked into the water, a third individual from the group retrieved it and examined its condition. It was determined that the bird was severely injured, leading to the decision to end its suffering. The Great Egret, affectionately known as Arthur by locals, was a cherished sight for many who frequented the area.
Following an investigation aided by the video evidence and witness testimonies, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department apprehended the 36-year-old suspect. He has been charged with animal cruelty and the killing of a nongame bird and was placed in the West Valley Detention Center.
Donica expressed the need for accountability, emphasizing that actions have consequences and that such behavior cannot be tolerated. The community, saddened by the loss of Arthur, hopes that justice will be served in this case to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.