Jackson man faces animal torture charge in parrot attack
A Jackson man accused of assaulting his pet parrot in Ann Arbor was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of animal torture.
Christopher Alan Turpen, 49, also is accused of manufacture or delivery of marijuana, court records show.
Christopher Alan Turpen
Turpen was arrested Tuesday night after witnesses called police to report a man attacking an unknown animal. Ann Arbor police officers caught up with Turpen in the 1000 block of South Main Street saw him shaking the parrot as it was "squawking loudly" and its feathers were "flying all over," police Lt. Renee Bush said Wednesday.
Police said Turpen was bitten when the bird fought back, leaving his finger scratched and bloodied.
The bird had redness in one of its eyes, bald spots on the back of its head and neck and was limping, Bush said. The man, who carried the bird in his backpack, told police he was "disciplining and training" it, Bush said.
The bird is recovering after being turned over to a rescue volunteer.
Turpen is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on an unrelated warrant, court records show. He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing on the new charges Sept. 29.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Laura
Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
So sad. Laura Quebbemann
jns131
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 10:25 p.m.
Remember this my friends, they start preying on small animals and when that is not enough? They start in on their own kind. Kind of sick and sad at the same time. He will be out in less then 5 preying on some bigger prey. Mamas? Keep an eye on your children.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 7:59 p.m.
@EyeHeartA2-----awwww....scaredy cat. Oops, erm.....I mean, chicken!
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.
@Rebecca---Exactly. If he does this in public, what exactly is he doing to that poor bird in private. And, @EyeheartA2--I hope I didn't come off as snotty. I actually quite enjoy your comments. I'm not a humourless harpy, I promise! I just have an incredible soft spot for parrots. And dogs. And, well.....most animals.
Rebecca
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.
Not that it's OK to do this EVER, but who in their right mind does this on Main Street in Ann Arbor of all places? I hope the bird is doing well. What a loser.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 6:59 p.m.
@EyeheartA2---Bravo. You're as humourless as I am. Let's meet up and form a support group.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
@lorie---I guess you're right. I was really commenting in regards to the other thread, too. There were some downright blase posts about it. (IE, "we kill and eat birds all the time, what's the big deal") I was just responding to two threads at once. You know....killing two birds with one stone. HA! I can joke too. hehe
lkmorgan
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 5:13 p.m.
We'd love the chance to care for the parrot. We have a lovebird now that thinks he's human. Believe it or not he actually plays with the dogs from inside the cage ( of course) and back when our cats were alive he'd play with them also!!!! Birds are very great pets and we've always wanted to have one, we've had a large 5 foot tall bird cage for the past 14 years hoping we'd be able to come across a parrot that we could afford or possibly rescue. I hope the bird is gonna be fine after this attack, and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. Let's all hope he doesn't have any kids to abuse!!!!! Shame on him what a loser!!! We'd love the chance to care for him and we've already been cleared through the humane society.
pseudo
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 5:10 p.m.
@Urban I don't think any of the comments shown already give any indication that its *ok* to abuse or injure a parrot. I think the point to the utter stupidity of it. I too hope the bird recovers physically and emotionally. All parrots, imho, are smart and wonderful creatures. This guy should be tried on both the drug and animal cruelty offenses charges.
Urban Sombrero
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
Wow, as the owner of an incredibly smart, 17 year old parrot, I'm dismayed to see some of these comments. I bet, had that man been beating on a dog, the comments would be totally different. Somehow, it's OK to hurt a bird? Depending on the breed, parrots can be incredibly smart. My parrot, an African Grey, has an enormous vocabulary. Not only does he speak, but he uses words in the correct context----"Bye Bye, see ya!" when we leave in the morning, "Hello!" when we come home, etc. He knows every member of my family by name. He can tell you, when asked, what a pig, dog and a tiger say. He has the intellect of a kindergartner. These are not dumb animals we're talking about and it's a shame that that man decided to be so cruel. Parrots need discipline but, sorry, smacking them only teaches them to be afraid of hands. (Hmmm...sort of like a dog, eh?) Anyone who doubts how smart parrots are, please Google, "Dr. Irene Pepperburg and Alex", and prepare to have your mind blown.
A2mom
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 3:45 p.m.
Well I think we know who has the "bird brain" don't we?? Let's hope he is held accountable for hurting that poor defensless bird!
djm12652
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 3:31 p.m.
I hope the bird heals soon, and can get to the Prosecutor's office and starts talking!
djm12652
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.
Perhaps he could get a prescription for the pain inflicted by the bird and then use his own product! [If he hasn't already] And by the telling of his "training" techniques...I'd say it's a good thing he wasn't working with a German Shepherd!
Bill Wilson
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.
Or- a entirely new meaning to "flipping the bird"?
lugemachine
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.
The parrot's simply pinin' for the fjords..
Brad
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 2:18 p.m.
It isn't "torture" - it's "enhanced parrot training techniques".
20/20
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 1:57 p.m.
Polly wanted a cracker, not a smacker!
sheeple
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.
I wonder if they can put the bird on the witness stand. If it keeps repeating, "500 grams of smack," I guess the guy is finished.