Paramedic Who Bit Parrot's Head Off Avoids JailPOSTED: 6:44 am EDT June 1, 2005
UPDATED: 3:49 pm EDT June 1, 2005
A paramedic who bit the head off a live pet parrot at a party will not go to jail, according to Local 6 News.

Bruce Coates, 34, was at a party in Feb. when he took the Quaker parrot, valued at $200, off someone else's shoulder, put the bird's head in his mouth and bit it off.
Police said the incident occurred at a party at the home of Coates (pictured, left) at the Saddle Club Estates community near state Road 44 and state Road 415.
Tuesday, Coates pleaded no contest to misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and a judge sentenced him to six months probation. Coats also must write an apology letter and get a mental health examination.
Coates told deputies that he was drinking alcohol and couldn’t remember what happened.
Witnesses told deputies that Coates and several other people were playing billiards. The parrot was on one of the player's shoulder when Coates grabbed the parrot, put the bird’s head in his mouth and bit it off.
Coates was demoted at his job after the incident, Local 6 News reported.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.