A Newton man who says he liberated an abandoned pet rabbit from the mean streets of Clayton Heights on May 21 has been charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property.

Warren Brundage says he was called to the neighbourhood by 鈥渙utraged鈥� residents who wanted it rescued. He says he scooped 鈥淏eans鈥� the rabbit up off the street about a block away from where its owners reside.

You might say the Surrey RCMP鈥檚 subsequent pursuit of Brundage has been relentless. Brundage was arrested by the Vancouver Police on a Surrey RCMP warrant on Nov. 17 after the VPD ran a routine check on his plates and the warrant popped up. He says he was handcuffed and put in the back seat of a squad car.

鈥淭he VPD officers wanted to simply serve me with the paperwork and appearance date and let me go but apparently the RCMP insisted I get taken in and booked,鈥� Brundage told the Now-Leader. 鈥淭hey then delayed sending the paperwork to VPD to keep me in a cell as long as they could. I was told by multiple VPD officers and constables at the jail that I must have done something to really 鈥榩iss-off鈥� the RCMP.

鈥淭he VPD officers were angry that their time was wasted and apologized to me multiple times for having to take me in,鈥� Brundage said. 鈥淚 read the notes on the police computer and the officers and others in the conversation agreed it was the most ridiculous charge they鈥檝e seen.鈥�

Const. Sarbjit Sangha, a spokeswoman the Surrey RCMP, said 鈥渋t does take a little bit of time鈥� for the detachment鈥檚 records department to fax paperwork to the arresting police. 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 busy, they are just doing their normal routine work that needs to be done; there鈥檚 no intention of keeping anybody longer than we need to,鈥� she said Wednesday.

As for the Surrey RCMP鈥檚 investigation, Sangha said, 鈥渇or some people their pets are like their children鈥� and 鈥渋t鈥檚 the sentimental value to that person that鈥檚 huge.鈥�

Brundage鈥檚 first appearance at Surrey provincial court was on Nov. 22 and his next appearance has been set for Jan. 10.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really bizarre,鈥� he said. 鈥淪urreal.鈥�

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 spoken to one person about this who hasn鈥檛 told me 鈥榯hat鈥檚 ridiculous.鈥欌��

Brundage says he runs one of the largest animal sanctuaries in B.C.

As for Beans, he said, the bunny has two girlfriends.

鈥淗e鈥檚 happy.鈥�

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on   and follow Tom on