Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, was involved in a bizarre incident where a dead bear cub was found in Central Park in 2014. Kennedy admitted to being responsible for leaving the cub in the park and explained that he intended to skin and eat it but ran out of time. The state agency that investigated the incident concluded that the bear had died from blunt-force trauma consistent with a high-speed collision, but due to a lack of evidence, the case was closed. While it is illegal to dispose of a dead bear improperly, Kennedy could not be fined as the statute of limitations had expired. A criminal defense lawyer suggested that Kennedy could have faced a civil fine from city authorities for illegal dumping, but he would not have faced criminal charges. The city Department of Sanitation used the incident as a teaching moment on social media, advising on how to properly dispose of dead animals in the city. The DEC also provided information on how to legally possess animals that have been unintentionally killed in collisions. Kennedy’s campaign did not comment on the incident.
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