Man said to spray weed killer on bird

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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., May 16 (UPI) -- A 59-year-old Florida man has been arrested after being accused of spraying weed killer on a macaw on his neighbor's patio, records say.

Joseph Pacheco was arrested Monday on charges of burglary and cruelty to animals, TCPalm.com reported.

Pacheco's neighbor told Port St. Lucie police he keeps several expensive birds on his screened patio and said Pacheco often complained about the birds making noise, TCPalm.com reported. The neighbor said Pacheco had called animal control officials to complain several times.

The neighbor said he had left his home Monday afternoon and that his 10-year-old daughter had called him about two hours later and told him she saw Pacheco reach through a hole in the screened patio and spray something on one of the birds.

Pacheco, TCPalm.com said, told police he had been spraying week killer along his fence.

A police report said the macaw is valued at $5,000.

The report said it remains unknown whether the bird was injured.

A St. Lucie County jail official said Pacheco was released Monday on $15,750 bail.