Man accused of stomping parrot in Boulder Creek

A man was arrested for a second time in less than 24 hours Sunday, Oct. 2, after he appeared to stomp a parrot to death in Boulder Creek.
David Miles, 32, of Santa Cruz, was arrested on felony animal cruelty charges after the death of Huey, a parrot that had attacked him at the home where he was staying after his release from jail, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Carney.
According to Carney, Miles was released from jail and went to stay with two acquaintances on the 100 block of Madrona Road in Boulder Creek.
While the bird’s owner, a 23-year-old woman, was in the shower, Miles reportedly went outside to smoke a cigarette. When he went back in, the ruckus began.
“The dogs started barking at him, and then the parrot (flew over) and attacked him and started biting his neck,” Carney said.
Miles apparently flung the bird to the floor.
“He threw it on the ground, but he took it a few steps more,” Carney said.
Carney said deputies responded to some kind of confrontation between Miles and the people who lived at the house at 11:39 p.m., at which point they found the dead parrot and arrested Miles.
Miles had no visible injuries from the reported attack.
The parrot was at least 18 years old, as it had been in the care of its owner for 17 years. Parrots can live from 20 to 100 years, depending on their size.
Miles had been arrested at 1:40 a.m. Sunday by the Scotts Valley Police Department on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance on Scotts Valley Drive near Acorn Court. Miles apparently posted bail of $2,500 for his release from jail before traveling to Boulder Creek, where he was arrested by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office on the animal cruelty charges. As of Wednesday, Oct. 5, Miles had not posted $5,000 bail and remains in jail.