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Police Arrest Burbank Man Previously Cited For Feeding Pigeons Near Airport

BURBANK (CBS) — A Burbank man repeatedly warned about feeding pigeons near Bob Hope Airport could face charges for violating a court order.

Burbank police Officer Joshua Kendrick says 59-year-old Charles Douglas was arrested about 10 a.m. Friday at his job in the 3000 block of North Hollywood Way.

"Douglas had continued to disperse bird seed in an alley and in parking areas near the Bob Hope Airport despite repeated warnings and citation," Kendrick said.

According to police, Douglas had been cited and warned since September. Douglas, however, insists that he stopped feeding his winged friends after the city took him to court last December.

"I stopped when the judge said to stop feeding for one year any type of bird," Douglas told Joy Benedict, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9.

Birds that get sucked into jet engines can cause catastrophic damage to the turbines.

"It is very important to address situations like this, as there has been a significant increase in incidents of these air strikes in the last few months," Victor Gill of the airport said.

Southwest Airlines reported several bird strikes at Bob Hope Airport recently.

Douglas, a business owner, was arrested under a municipal code that prevents anyone from creating any sort of nuisance. Feeding birds in the city of Burbank, however, is not illegal.

He has since posted a $5,000 bond.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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