Man Accused Of Using Animals To Extort Money

A Toronto man who allegedly threatened to kill a baby raccoon and a Canada goose unless bystanders gave him money faces charges of extortion.

Peter Lerat, 33, told witnesses on a Toronto street Sunday he would bash in the head of the 10-week-old raccoon unless someone gave him $50. He was arrested after a bus driver alerted police.

Authorities later euthanized the raccoon because it was found to have a badly broken jaw.

Lerat also is accused of extorting $60 from a customer in a doughnut shop on April 24 by threatening to break the neck of a Canada goose he was holding. He reportedly released the goose when he received the money.