Florida

Police: Landscaper Ran Over Ducklings with Lawnmower

Jason Falbo has been charged with animal cruelty after running over a mother duck and her 11 ducklings with a lawnmower.

A Florida landscaper has been charged with animal cruelty after authorities say he ran over a mother duck and her 11 ducklings with his lawnmower as the family that had been caring for the ducks, including their 7-year-old son, watched in horror.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that police arrested 24-year-old Jason Falbo of Royal Palm Beach on Wednesday. He's charged with nine counts of animal cruelty.

Authorities say he mowed down the ducks May 2 at the home of a family caring for them in Wellington. The family says the ducklings were a few days old.

Boyd Jentzsch says his family, including his 7-year-old son, watched from inside their home, screaming as the ducks were run over.

Jentzsche says he confronted Falbo, then called the police and the county's Animal Care and Control, who found the remains of the birds

Police say nine ducklings died, including two who managed to escape the attack along with their mother and two other ducklings into a lake, but drowned. The mother and two ducklings survived.

Falbo is being held at the Palm Beach County Jail on $27,000 bail.

It is unknown if he has hired an attorney.

Police wrote in their report that the nine baby ducks lost their lives "cruelly and viciously with extreme intent."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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