Man accused of holding family at gunpoint over bird dispute

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Bernalillo County man is facing child abuse and aggravated assault charges for holding a family at gunpoint because he believed they had shot and killed a federally-protected bird. Carlos Proffit remained jailed Monday on a $25,000 bond. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney. The incident happened Saturday on the Pajarito Mesa southwest of Albuquerque. Proffit told deputies he saw the family shoot at a red-tailed hawk and admitted to keeping them there at gunpoint until authorities arrived. In a criminal complaint, deputies say they observed one of the children holding what appeared to be a shotgun. The father said the family was attempting to get a closer look at the bird when Proffit drove up and pulled a gun on them. Authorities did not say if the bird was actually harmed.