Riva Man In Florida Jail For Tackling Pelican In Viral Video

EDGEWATER, MD — A Maryland man blasted on social media after publishing a video on Facebook that showed him tackling a federally protected pelican in the Florida Keys is being held in a Florida jail on $80,000 bond for animal cruelty charges. Maryland State Police say William Hunter Hardesty, 31, of Riva, led authorities to him last month by reportedly bragging about how he lured the pelican to him and then jumped on the bird. He was at a hotel in Ocean City, Maryland, talking about his infamous video, when someone who heard his story called authorities.

Maryland state troopers arrested Hardesty on March 15 at a hotel in the 12000 block of Ocean Gateway in Ocean City. He was awaiting extradition to Monroe County, Florida, and that has now taken place. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office website shows that Hardesty was booked on April 2 on three animal cruelty related charges.

Hardesty posted the apparent fowl attack video to his Facebook account on March 7. While onlookers laughed, a bystander said: "Excuse me. If you don't get out of there right now, I'm going to call security." The pelican then bites Hardesty before escaping from his clutches.

Many on social media were quick to criticize Hardesty, saying he abused the federally protected pelican and should face legal consequences.

Robert Klepper, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told Patch previously that the agency saw the video and took the matter "very seriously. We are investigating the video for possible criminal violations," said Klepper. Florida authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Hardesty.

Maryland State Police were contacted March 15 by concerned citizens who said they believed the man in the video was staying at the Ocean City hotel. Troopers were told the man was bragging to them about being wanted for feeding and tackling a pelican in the Florida Keys.

Troopers confirmed the extraditable arrest warrant with Florida law enforcement, went to the hotel and, after identifying Hardesty, arrested him without incident.

Hardesty was arrested on a warrant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that charges him with animal cruelty to migratory birds and the intentional feeding of pelicans.