Keys man kicked chicken like ‘a football player would kick a field goal,’ witnesses say
A Keys man was arrested on an animal cruelty charge after the Monroe Country Sheriff’s Office says he kicked a chicken so hard he broke four of its ribs.
The man, identified as Nicholas Chew of Marathon, told the responding sergeant that he was “kicking the chicken out of the way,” and was annoyed by the noise it was making, according to a police report.
Chew was arrested Monday for the March 22 incident He remained in a Monroe County jail on no bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 11.
According to the sheriff’s office, Sgt. Joel Slough responded to the 200 block of 91st Street in Marathon because of a “domestic argument.”
Chew’s girlfriend, the sheriff’s office said in a social media post, told the deputy “she was mad that Chew kicked a chicken and possibly broke its leg.”
“Chew admitted to kicking the chicken out of the way, further admitting his annoyance by the noise the birds cause,” the sheriff’s office said. “A separate witness stated he saw Chew kick the chicken in the way a football player would kick a field goal.”
Slough, the sheriff’s office said, found the Rhode Island Red chicken standing on one leg. It “appeared to be in respiratory distress,” the sheriff’s office said.
The chicken was taken by Animal Control to Marathon Veterinary Hospital where it was determined that the chicken suffered four broken ribs. The chicken was then taken to the Florida Keys Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Th chicken’s owner called the organization and said the chicken was a pet and was named “Huhn.” The owner, who was not identified, wanted to press charges.
