DANVERS — Danvers police played "who's got the rabbit?" Wednesday afternoon as they investigated simultaneous reports of a domestic dispute and a call to check on the well-being of a bunny.
It turned out to be a fight between a father and a son over how the father was caring — or failing to care — for the hare.
Yesterday, Michael April Sr., 56, of 259 Newbury St., Danvers, appeared in Salem District Court to answer to a charge of domestic assault and battery on his son Michael April Jr. He pleaded not guilty.
Police were called to 1 Cabot Road, where April Sr.'s mother lives, to check on the rabbit. She told them that her son and grandson had argued and left.
Patrolman T.J. Timmons asked "what she knew about a rabbit," according to his report.
"She stated she was not sure where the rabbit was," the patrolman wrote, so he and Patrolman Derek Colella walked around the house looking for signs of the creature.
They found no rabbit, nor any signs of one.
Meanwhile, police at the station were taking a report from April Jr. about a fight at 18 Oak St.
He told police that he had become concerned for the animal, a pet, after noticing that it appeared to be foaming at the mouth, lying in its own waste, with the wrong type of food and no water bottle, in a makeshift cage.
"He felt it was in distress," Timmons wrote.
So he scooped up the rabbit and took it back to his home.
He was followed by his father and his brother Justin, who showed up seconds behind him. April Sr. allegedly grabbed April Jr. by the neck and made a fist, then tried to throw him to the ground, as April Jr. yelled to his girlfriend to call police.
She couldn't find the phone, so she decided to give the rabbit to Justin April to make them go away.
Back at 1 Cabot St., police were still talking to his mother when April Sr. rode up on a scooter. He told police that he was simply trying to get his rabbit back and offered to show them a bill of sale as proof of ownership.
April Jr. said he didn't want to file a restraining order against his father but did tell police he wanted them to check on the rabbit.
Colella decided that the rabbit appeared OK.
In court yesterday, April Sr. reiterated his ownership of the rabbit, telling Judge Sabita Singh that it is his.
Singh released him on personal recognizance, with an order that he not abuse his son.
"There was no abuse, but OK," April Sr. responded.
He is due back in court Sept. 14.
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