California Man Allegedly Beat Sick Sea Lion With A Stick

A California man is facing multiple charges for allegedly beating a beached sea lion with a stick while in possession of methamphetamines, police said.

The Ventura Police Department said its team monitoring surveillance cameras on Tuesday witnessed a man attacking a beached sea lion along the Ventura Beach promenade. Police said the suspect was seen “striking the animal multiple times with a large stick.”

Officers quickly responded to the scene and detained the suspect as he attempted to flee on foot. Officers searched the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Christopher Hurtado, and allegedly found methamphetamine in his possession.

California State Parks officers also responded to the scene and notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The sea lion was alive at the time of the incident, but suffering from domoic acid poisoning, caused by a naturally occurring toxin in algae. The Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute responded to assess the animals condition.

Hurtado was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail on charges of felony animal cruelty, felony possession of a controlled substance, and violation of federal laws protecting marine mammals.

 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement will be assisting in this investigation at the federal level.

“It is a crime under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to intentionally harass or injure sea lions. We are grateful for the quick response by the Ventura Police Department and look forward to working with them and California State Parks on this investigation,” Assistant Director Greg Busch with the NOAAs Office of Law Enforcement said in a statement.

Police are reminding residents and visitors not to touch, move, feed, or harass any marine mammals. Anyone who encounters an ill or injured beached seal or sea lion in Ventura County is asked to call the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute rescue hotline at 805-567-1505 for assistance.