Postal Worker Charged With Animal Cruelty in Sugar the Peacock Case

Los Angeles County prosecutors have charged a U.S. Postal Service worker with one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals in connection with an Aug. 18 encounter in East Pasadena in which home security video appeared to show a mail carrier striking Sugar, an all-white peacock that residents describe as a neighborhood fixture, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Court records cited by the Times identify the defendant as Charanjit Singh, 48, of Rosemead, and show the charge was filed Thursday.

A criminal charge is an accusation, not a finding of guilt. The Times reported that Singh could not immediately be reached for comment.

Video from cameras at the home of neighbor Gina Davis reportedly appeared to show the carrier directing liquid toward the bird and throwing a rock or similar object. Later, it allegedly appeared to show him striking Sugar with a stick or club near the mail truck. The bird appeared to flop around before collapsing.

“The peacock was just standing in front of his truck,” Davis told the Times.

Davis has also said Sugar sometimes chased the carrier.

“There are times when we’ve seen him chase the mail carrier, and I understand, but you can’t just throw rocks and hit with sticks,” she told KABC-TV in August.

The Postal Service, which is conducting its own investigation, has said employees in the area “have experienced previous encounters with peacocks.”

In a statement, the agency said it takes allegations of inappropriate conduct seriously “and will take appropriate action, as warranted, consistent with Postal Service policies.”

A Pasadena Humane veterinarian found several minor wounds with swelling, and nothing appeared to be broken on X-rays, the organization said in August. Pasadena Humane Animal Control investigated and turned the case over to the District Attorney’s Office for review.

In September, Pasadena Humane said Sugar had fully recovered and had been moved to a private ranch in Northern California. Its wildlife experts determined that relocation “would offer him the best quality of life and help reduce the risk of future negative encounters given the significant public attention surrounding his case,” the nonprofit said.

Singh is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6.