Group Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Swan from Queens Park

Viral Video of Swan Theft

• 📹 A video capturing a group of individuals allegedly stealing a swan from Frank Charles Memorial Park in Howard Beach, Queens, went viral.
• 🐦 The footage shows a young man running with the swan and stuffing it into a car, with bystanders yelling at them.
• 🗣️ A neighbor, PJ Marcel, shared the video on his Facebook group, leading to widespread attention and nearly 150,000 views.

Investigation and Arrests

• 📍 Less than 24 hours after the video was posted, the suspects were spotted about two miles away at Forest Park.
• 📸 A New York City parks worker, Frank Kelly, took a picture of the blue Prius and suspects, which was then forwarded to US Parks Police.
• 🚓 Marcel rushed to Forest Park and recorded the arrest of three of the four male suspects, with the fourth later located.
• 🦢 Police found swan feathers inside the vehicle, which was towed.

Swan's Status and Community Reaction

• 💔 The stolen swan is still missing, and it was identified as a female that had been seen with four babies.
• 😠 Residents expressed outrage and disbelief over the incident, especially given that swans are federally protected birds.
• ✅ The park worker who helped identify the suspects expressed satisfaction in contributing to the apprehension.