Man arrested after coaxing pelican over to dock, jumping into water on top of bird, police say

A Maryland man wanted in Florida on an animal cruelty charge was arrested Friday morning in Ocean City, Maryland, police said.William Hunter Hardesty, 31, was arrested on a warrant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission charging him with animal cruelty to migratory birds and the intentional feeding of pelicans. Troopers arrested Hardesty at a hotel in Ocean City. He awaits extradition to Florida.A video posted on Hardesty's Facebook account shows a man in Florida luring and then jumping on top of a pelican in the water. Florida authorities investigated and obtained an arrest warrant for Hardesty.People who called police said Hardesty was bragging to them about being wanted for feeding and tackling a pelican in the Florida Keys, state police said.

A Maryland man wanted in Florida on an animal cruelty charge was arrested Friday morning in Ocean City, Maryland, police said.


William Hunter Hardesty, 31, was arrested on a warrant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission charging him with animal cruelty to migratory birds and the intentional feeding of pelicans.

Troopers arrested Hardesty at a hotel in Ocean City. He awaits extradition to Florida.

A video posted on Hardesty's Facebook account shows a man in Florida luring and then jumping on top of a pelican in the water. Florida authorities investigated and obtained an arrest warrant for Hardesty.

People who called police said Hardesty was bragging to them about being wanted for feeding and tackling a pelican in the Florida Keys, state police said.