NJ man arrested after ripping seagull’s head off when it tried to swipe fries from his daughter

A New Jersey man tore a seagull’s head off after it tried to steal French fries from his daughter — then fought with the cops who tried to arrest him for animal cruelty.

Franklin Zeigler, 29, of Cape May, was at Surfside Pier in Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks on the Wildwood boardwalk on July 6 when a mooching seagull tried to make off with the fries.

In a fit of rage, Zeigler attacked the unfortunate bird and ripped its head off its body, according to New Jersey 101.5.

A seagull like this was allegedly murdered by a Cape May man for the crime of french fry theft.
A seagull like this was allegedly murdered by a Cape May man for the crime of french fry theft. Getty Images

Morey’s Piers on 2501 Boardwalk Avenue in North Wildwood, New Jersey
The man was at Morey’s Piers in North Wildwood, New Jersey, when he reportedly killed the bird, then asked workers for a garbage bag. Google Maps

The avian assassin then asked boardwalk workers for a trash bag so he could dispose of the gull’s remains — which he still clutched in his hands, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

The North Wildwood cops showed up, and Zeigler quickly got “irate and uncooperative with officers on an unrelated investigation,” the station said.

Authorities arrested him and charged him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

He was also hit with a third-degree animal cruelty charge on July 18, according to reports.

Zeigler was given an Aug. 9 court date, then cut loose, the Ledger said.

Anyone with information about the case can call the North Wildwood Police Department Detective Division at 609-522-2411.

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