Seagulls are a common sight at the Jersey Shore, including on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
A Cape May man who allegedly ripped the head off a seagull after becoming incensed that the bird tried to steal his daughter’s French fries has been indicted on animal cruelty charges.
Franklin C. Zeigler, 30, faces animal cruelty and child endangerment charges following his arrest last year in North Wildwood, according to a copy of the June 24 indictment released Wednesday by the New Jersey court system.
Zeigler’s attorney, John Tumelty, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The indictment says Zeigler had “cruelly abused or needlessly mutilated a living animal.”
He is also facing a charge of endangering the welfare of a 2-year-old child in his care. The indictment identifies the child only as “Z.Z.” It says Zeigler “did cause harm to Z.Z., making Z.Z. an abused or neglected child,” but provides no other details.
Zeigler was arrested on July 6, 2024, after witnesses told police he had decapitated a seagull at Surfside Pier, one of the theme parks at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Water Parks on the North Wildwood Boardwalk.
He became irate and uncooperative with officers while they were conducting an investigation that ultimately led to animal cruelty charges, North Wildwood police said in a news release last year announcing Zeigler’s arrest.
Police said the investigation included photos of the decapitated seagull and statements from workers at Morey’s Piers who said Zeigler approached them for a trash bag while holding the dead bird.
According to court documents, Zeigler told police that he became angry when the seagull tried to grab French fries from his daughter.
Witnesses at the scene told police that they saw Zeigler decapitate the seagull, North Wildwood police said in the news release.
