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Teenagers arrested for throwing chicken in bonfire, sheriff says

Two juveniles were arrested for animal cruelty after allegedly dousing a chicken with gasoline and throwing it in a bonfire on Camano Island, according to Island County Sheriff Mark Brown.

On April 13, a staff member at Pasado's Safe Haven, an animal sanctuary in Sultan, reported the suspected animal cruelty case to the Island County Sheriff's Office. Kim Koon, an investigator for Pasado, provided investigators with a report of the incident and a link to the video of the alleged crime being committed.

Brown said the video shows "the live chicken being thrown into a bonfire, drenched in gasoline and beaten with a pitchfork." The flaming chicken runs out of the fire and the teenagers pour more gas on the bird. Laughter can be heard in the background.

Animal Control Officer Carol Barnes and Lt. Jeff Myers investigated the case and arrested two teenage boys, ages 15 and 16, on suspicion of first-degree animal cruelty. One teenager is from Camano Island and the other is from Stanwood.

"They both appeared to be remorseful after the fact," Barnes said, adding that the boys were cooperative with the investigation.

The incident occurred during the teenager's spring break. The boys shared the video with friends but don't know who posted it on Twitter.

The teenagers were booked into Island County juvenile facility in Coupeville.

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