A Rosemead man, identified as a U.S. Postal Service worker, has been charged with animal cruelty following an incident in August involving a beloved white peacock in Pasadena. Los Angeles County prosecutors filed a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals against Charanjit Singh, 48, this past Thursday, according to court records. This marks the first public identification of the mail carrier since the event.
The incident occurred on August 18 in the 3700 block of Mohawk Street. The peacock, known to residents as Sugar, had lived in the neighborhood for years and was something of a local fixture. While appreciated by many, Sugar was also known for a specific disposition, particularly toward men. Gina Davis, a Pasadena schoolteacher, previously recounted that the bird could be "a little, well, aggressive" when it came to males, having reportedly chased off her husband and a neighbor. Davis's husband had given the bird the name Sugar, she said, "because it was white, not because of his personality."
Davis was the one who discovered the cause of Sugar's injuries, reviewing her home security footage after the bird was found injured. The video reportedly showed a postal worker first throwing a rock at the peacock. Later, the footage captured the bird following the mail carrier to his truck. The video then showed the individual exiting the truck, armed with "a club or stick or something," and striking the bird, reportedly in the head or neck.
Following the discovery, the Pasadena Humane Society rushed Sugar to its Wildlife Center. Vets there examined the bird, finding swelling but no broken bones, a small piece of good news in a strange situation. Animal service investigators promptly launched an investigation into the matter.
The criminal charge against Singh comes about a week after the Pasadena Humane Society announced that Sugar had made a full recovery. Due to the "significant public attention surrounding his case," the nonprofit determined that relocation would be in the bird's best interest. To ensure "his long-term well-being" and "reduce the risk of future negative encounters," Sugar was moved to a private ranch in Northern California.
Singh could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the charge. The U.S. Postal Service, which is conducting its own investigation into the incident, did not respond to inquiries. Singh is scheduled for arraignment on November 6.
