Denver Man Rips Head Off Live Duck

By Pamela Mortimer

Denver businessman Scott D. Clark was taken into custody on Sunday after he allegedly beheaded a tame duck in the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Clark, 26, who was a guest at the hotel, chased and trapped the duck at approximately 2:30 A.M. on Saturday morning and then proceeded to rip its head from its body. A hotel security guard and others stood by and watched, according to police. "One of the security guards watched [the man] corner one of the ducks and tear its head off from its body," said St. Paul police Sgt. John Wuorinen.

Clark addressed his astonished audience and said, "I'm hungry. I'm gonna eat it," Sgt. John Wuorinen said.

"It sounds like there was quite a bit of alcohol involved," Wuorinen said.

After the incident, Clark was taken into custody and detained by hotel security personnel until police came on the scene to make the arrest. Clark was booked into the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center. The suspect remained in custody on Sunday and will appear in court on Monday to defend himself against charges of felony animal cruelty. Messages left at the jail on Sunday were not returned.

According to Tim Shields, general counsel with the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies, Clark could face up to two years in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. Shields also said the incident was "unconscionable".

The hotel is known for showcasing an ornamental pond complete with about eight domestic ducks inside the lobby and atrium, police said. A popular opinion is that maintaining live ducks in a hotel lobby could endanger their safety since they could easily be stepped on or run over by suitcases. Or in Clark’s case, be beheaded. Obviously, animal protection groups are outraged by Clark’s actions and will certainly take steps to prevent similar cases from happening in the future.

"I think Embassy Suites needs to take another look at this and review how they keep ducks safe, or use fish like most hotels would use," Shields said.

On Sunday, all calls made to the Embassy Suites were referred to either the general manager or the assistant general manager. Neither was available and the calls were not returned.