Two men from Milford, Connecticut, are facing charges after they allegedly ripped the heads off 20 chickens during a “jealous rage” on Christmas Day.
Ulrich was charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty among other charges and Budnovitch was charged with conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals. Bond for Ulrich was set at $15,000 and Budnovitch’s was set at $5,000.
“Ulrich was highly intoxicated and was in a jealous rage,” Officer Michael DeVito told the Hartford Courant. “He banged [the chickens] on the ground to kill them and snapped the heads off.”
The Milford Police Department called the animal cruelty acts “gruesome” in a Thursday, Jan. 4 tweet.
Before the chicken incident, both men also smashed the windows of several motor vehicles in Devon and Milford, while Budnovitch, drove according to a press release. They were both arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
Ulrich specifically made Budnovitch drive to the homes of people that angered him. At one point he leaned out of the car and swung an ax at their car windows— while Budnovitch was still driving, DeVito told the Hartford Courant.
Milford police said the men went to two different locations and stole the 20 chickens.
Police also checked on Ulrich’s wife to see if she was safe. They said there were no signs that Ulrich had been physically violent with her, or that he intended to hurt her later, the Hartford Courant reported.
Both men have had previous run-ins with police.
Back in May 2016, Ulrich was sentenced to six months in jail for: carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of a weapon in a vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, breach of peace, and carrying a firearm while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Even earlier in 2010, he was fined for being in possession of fewer than four ounces of marijuana.
Budnovitch avoided a prison term last year after he was convicted of crimes ranging from larceny to engaging police in pursuit, according to the newspaper.
Friends Read Free