Vegas Flamingo Torture Suspect Skips Second Las Vegas Court Date
Posted on: May 21, 2026, 10:56h.
Last updated on: May 21, 2026, 11:46h.
- Mitchell Fairbarn has skipped his second court appearance
- The Canadian tourist faces felony animal cruelty charges for the March 2026 abduction and assault of flamingo from the Flamingo Las Vegas
- Security footage and cell phone evidence reveal Fairbarn captured and choked the bird, Peachy, inside his 14th-floor hotel room
The Canadian tourist accused of choking and injuring a beloved flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip is officially a no-show, skipping his second straight court date on Wednesday (May 20).
Mitchell Fairbarn, 33, of Ontario, faces four felony counts of torturing, maiming, or killing an animal kept for companionship or pleasure. Police say he removed a flamingo from the Flamingo Las Vegas’ wildlife habitat, took it to his hotel room, and abused it while recording the attack on his phone.
Sitting Ducks
According to security footage, Fairbarn entered the habitat at about 5 a.m. on March 3, 2026. Investigators said he first chased one flamingo and injured its wing before grabbing another — Peachy, a longtime resident of the resort’s outdoor sanctuary.
The video shows Fairbarn tucking Peachy under his shirt and jacket and boarding a tower elevator with another man. (Only Fairbarn was charged.) After exiting on the 14th floor, police said, he laughed and announced, “I’m taking it home.”
What happened next, according to the arrest report, was captured on Fairbarn’s own phone: images and video of him choking Peachy and throwing the bird to the floor.
Police said Peachy screamed during the assault while Fairbarn laughed.
Fairbarn told officers he had been drinking heavily, claimed he took the bird to “pop” its wing back into place, and admitted his behavior was “repulsive,” according to the report.
Officers described Peachy as distressed but alive when they arrived. Both Peachy and the flamingo whose wing was clipped were treated by veterinarians working with the resort and reportedly made a full recovery.
Caesars Entertainment, which owns the Flamingo, called the incident “deeply distressing.”
Coop Flown
A Las Vegas judge released him on $12,000 bail, ordering him to surrender his passport, stay away from the Strip, avoid all animals, and wear an electronic monitor if released.
Fairbarn then failed to appear for his first scheduled court date in early March, and once again on May 20.
A status check for negotiations is now set for June 4.
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