Reward Offered For Turkey Killings In Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The Animal Legal Defense Fund is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for purposefully running down and killing wild turkeys with their vehicle in Ben Lomond on Jan. 16, according ALDF officials.

The legal advocacy organization is looking for the person who drove a white pickup truck and allegedly sped up to hit a flock of roughly 40 wild turkeys, leaving at least three birds dead and more injured.

That morning, law enforcement officials received complaints of the truck running down the turkeys near the intersection of Live Oak and Brookside avenues, ALDF officials said in a statement. Witnesses described the truck's driver as a young man who may have been accompanied by a young male passenger, according to the ALDF.

In California, any person convicted of maliciously wounding an animal can be imprisoned for up to three years in county jail or fined $20,000 for felony animal cruelty, according to the ALDF. It is up to the
district attorney to decide if the specific act of animal cruelty is charged as a felony.

According to the ALDF, scientific research shows a link between animal cruelty and violence against humans, so they urge anyone with information to come forward. Information can be submitted by calling the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's secret witness line at 888-334-2258 or by texting
CALTIP followed by a space and a message to 847411.

See Also:

• Toys R Us Burglars Caught On Camera: Sheriff's Office

By Bay City News

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