He couldn’t fly the coop.
The man who found himself running “afowl” of the justice system on Wednesday after being arrested in the East Village for allegedly catching pigeons was immediately rearrested Thursday just as he was set to walk free.
According to police sources, 67-year-old Dwayne Daley of Bushkill, PA, was arraigned on May 1 on a slew of animal cruelty charges after a park goer in Tompkins Square Park spotted him with a net scooping up the New York birds and dialed 911.
However, just as Daley looked to walk free, the NYPD officers immediately cuffed him again, this time on even more serious charges dating back several years.
Cops say Daley had been wanted for an assault that occurred in Brooklyn in 2021.
Police sources said a 59-year-old man spotted Daley on Meeker and Union Avenues in Williamsburg at about 8:18 a.m. on Feb. 3 using a net to catch pigeons when he confronted him and told him to stop. During the dispute, Daley reportedly punched the victim, knocking two teeth out of his mouth before speeding away in his vehicle.
Sources familiar with the investigation say police were able to connect the birdbrained pigeon catcher to this attack following his latest arrest and were able to charge him with felony assault on Thursday.
Several animal rights activists have reported that they believe cruel poachers sell the birds out of state to be used as target practice.
During his April 30, 2025, cuffing, cops found a van belonging to Daley with Pennsylvania plates. Inside, they found some 25 pigeons within small cages, along with more nets.
Activists rejoiced that police took action against the illegal poaching.
“I was happy to learn that longtime notorious pigeon poacher Dwayne Daley was arrested thanks to compassionate New Yorkers who called 911 when they spotted him netting pigeons in Tompkins Square Park. Pigeon poaching is an illegal act of animal cruelty that deserves consequences but rarely has any,” Executive Director of NYCLASS Edita Birnkrant told amNewYork in response to the first arrest on Wednesday. “Dwayne Daley was arrested way back in 2007 for poaching pigeons in NYC but his case was dismissed and we believe he’s continued poaching pigeons with impunity since then, likely tens of thousands of pigeons.”
Dwayne was charged with a slew of animal cruelty charges under the state’s Agricultural Markets Law on Wednesday but now faces the more hefty charge of felony assault.
Police looked to remind the public to immediately dial 911 if they see anyone netting pigeons.
