"Diaz captured the juvenile hawk at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier in June 2025 and poured the alcoholic beverage into its mouth, authorities said. According to its website, a BuzzBall contains about 15% alcohol. Another clip posted to YouTube showed the bird with a joint in its mouth."
"This fact pattern is definitely an unusual one. We deal with violations regarding raptors and birds of prey on a relative frequency but I haven't seen anything to this level of disregard for the animal in quite a while."
"Cesar Gustavo Diaz, 25, of Watts pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty Feb. 19. He was also ordered to serve 12 months of probation and 20 days of community labor, and to complete a 24-session animal cruelty counseling program."
Cesar Gustavo Diaz, 25, of Watts was sentenced to 45 days in Los Angeles County jail after pleading no contest to animal cruelty charges. He captured a juvenile Cooper's hawk at a South Whittier park and fed it a BuzzBall cocktail containing approximately 15% alcohol. Additional YouTube videos showed the bird with a joint in its mouth. Public reports of the online videos prompted a California Department of Fish and Wildlife investigation. Diaz received 12 months probation, 20 days community labor, and must complete a 24-session animal cruelty counseling program. He was released after receiving credit for time served.
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]