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Images released by the Las Vegas Police Department show an Ontario tourist taking a flamingo, allegedly removed from its habitat, back to his hotel room. LAS VEGAS -- A Canadian man was convicted of animal cruelty charges Monday for snatching a flamingo named Peachy from its enclosure at an iconic Las Vegas hotel. Prosecutors said it was a malicious prank while a lawyer for the tourist insisted it was drunken foolishness not meant to harm the bird. Prosecutors said tourist Mitchell Fairbarn hurt and frightened the 27-year-old Chilean flamingo when he took it from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and carried the squawking bird to his room March 3. Defence attorney Josh Tomsheck told jurors at trial in a Nevada court that the man deeply regretted the “bad decisions” he made while intoxicated. After about five hours of deliberations, jurors returned convictions on felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty counts against the Ontario, Canada, man. Mitchell Fairbarn, left, appears in court with his attorney Josh Tomsheck, during jury selection for his trial at the Regional Justice Center on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas.

Video played at the trial showed Fairbarn holding the flamingo in an elevator and carrying it down a hotel hallway at the famous hotel. The Flamingo is one of the oldest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and its well-known flamingo habitat also includes hummingbirds, turtles, koi and other species. Prosecutors told jurors earlier that Fairbarn willfully caused the bird physical pain, noting feathers were found on the hotel floor. Video showed the bird squawking while Fairbarn handled it and prosecutors said Peachy felt pain when it was pulled by its feet. Las Vegas police responded to the scene after security staff reported someone had stolen the flamingo. When Peachy was located, it was missing seven to eight feathers, had blood on its feathers and injuries to its wings, authorities said. Taking the bird was “dumb” and “fueled by drunkenness,” defense attorney Josh Tomsheck said. But Tomsheck added that his client never intended to hurt the bird, a key element in the felony charge. “He should not have done that, should not have gone into the habitat, shouldn’t have touched a bird, shouldn’t have taken Peachy inside,” Tomsheck said. “The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid.

Canada·NewA Las Vegas court heard closing arguments Monday in the case of an Ontario man charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty after authorities allege he entered the flamingo habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino last March and took a bird named Peachy back to his room. Mitchell Fairbarn of Ontario told his trial he never meant to hurt Peachy, the bird he took in MarchMitchell Fairbarn of Ontario told court he meant no harm to Peachy, bird he took from Flamingo Hotel in MarchNatalie Stechyson · CBC News · Posted: Oct 19, 2026 8:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 33 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Mitchell Fairbarn breaks down while testifying during his trial at the Regional Justice Center Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Las Vegas. Fairbarn is accused of stealing a flamingo from its enclosure at a Las Vegas resort and abusing it. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal/The Associated Press)What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

PoliticsCanada's top general promises to publicly release findings into the Wainwright training fire that killed four soldiers and injured 39 others. But as three investigations get underway, military law experts warn the process may not establish fault, raising questions about accountability and whether grieving families will get the answers they deserve. Saturday's training disaster killed 4 soldiers, injured dozens moreMurray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Oct 19, 2026 6:36 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. A flag flies at half-mast at the Royal Canadian Legion in Wainwright, Alta., after four Canadian Armed Forces members were killed in a fire on Saturday. Three separate investigations will examine what happened at CFB Wainwright.

SaskatchewanCurtis Dagenais returned on Monday to the same Saskatoon courtroom where, 17 years ago, a jury convicted him of murder. Judge to give decision on Crown's application for forfeiture on Dec. 4Hannah Spray · CBC News · Posted: Oct 19, 2026 4:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Curtis Dagenais arrives at court in Saskatoon in March 2009, during his trial for the murders of two RCMP constables and attempted murder of a third. He was convicted on all three counts and is serving three life sentences. (Geoff Howe/The Canadian Press)It's been more than 17 years since a jury sat in courtroom No. 1 at Saskatoon Court of King's Bench for Curtis Dagenais's murder trial. Since then, the courthouse has been expanded and renovated. Its name changed too, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.