Local

Man arrested after allegedly punching swan in head at Lake Eola

ORLANDO, Fla. — A 59-year-old man was arrested Sunday night after punching a swan in front of two off-duty police officers at Lake Eola, the Orlando Police Department said.

“(They are) majestic you know.  They are gorgeous,” said resident Robert Putt.

Orlando police Cpl. Shelby Riggshopkins was off duty when she and her family snapped the photo of a swan and its babies. Seconds later, Riggshopkins said Sor Valez walked by.

%

INLINE

%

“He was pretty close to the mother swan. She kind of dipped her head, looking at him. Didn’t nip at him or anything,” Riggshopkins said. 
Riggshopkins said Valez kept walking for about 15 feet, stopped, came back to the swan and punched it in the head.
“I was really kind of in disbelief at what I just saw. So, I said, ‘We’re not going to let him get away with that,’” she said. “It was disgusting, to be honest with you.”
Riggshopkins called 911 as her husband and brother-in-law chased Valez down.
“I was concerned that my children just saw it because they’re looking at me, like, ‘What just happened? Why did he do that?’ They’re literally, like, ‘Why did he do that to the bird?’” Riggshopkins said.
“What's going wrong with the world, you know?" Putt said. “That's crazy. There must be laws against that.”
“The swans are super cool and there is like a ton of them,” said Christopher Radford.
Velez was arrested and charged with injuring wildlife on public property.
“The disturbing part about it is even after he was stopped for it, he was so nonchalant and had no remorse for it. Didn’t care, and I don’t think him being arrested for it will really prevent him from doing it in the future,” she said.
Valez pleaded no contest when he faced a judge Monday.
Valez will serve 10 days in jail and pay a fine of $275.
“I know some people think this is not the crime of the century, and I know it’s not, but, you know, the animal doesn’t deserve to be injured for no reason,” Riggshopkins said.
The swan was not injured, officials said.