A United States Postal Service worker has been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly attacking a wild peacock with a rock in August, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told NBC Los Angeles on Monday.
Charanjit Singh, 48, is facing one misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal, which carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in county jail and a $20,000 fine.
Singh was captured on video that appeared to show him striking the white peacock with a rock at least twice, then hitting it with a stick. It was not immediately clear what led to the incident.
Pasadena Humane, which took in the bird named Sugar and provided medical care, had said the peacock was “communally owned.”
After the video of the incident spread on social media, the USPS said it was “reviewing the incident and gathering the facts,” but added that mail carriers had previously encountered aggressive animals.
“Postal employees in this area have experienced previous encounters with peacocks, and the Postal Service has been working with Pasadena Humane regarding concerns involving the birds. We take allegations of inappropriate conduct seriously and will take appropriate action, as warranted, consistent with Postal Service policies.”
Sugar has made a full recovery and has been relocated to a private ranch in Northern California, according to Pasadena Humane.