MACOMB TOWNSHIP (WWJ) -- A man and a woman from Macomb Township are facing criminal charges for allegedly lying to police about a break-in and the theft of a pet parrot.
Last month, 30-year-old Lauren Siler and her 37-year-old fiancé Christopher Urbanczyk claimed an acquaintance forced his way into their home and took a $2,500 eclectus parrot and one of its eggs.
The couple told authorities that the man also pushed one of them to the floor before escaping the home and driving away with the exotic bird.
Investigators say they later confirmed the accused acquaintance -- a 63-year-old man from Columbus Township -- was actually the rightful owner of the parrot.
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The man turned himself in to Macomb County police claiming the parrot belonged to him, but he was unable to provide proof of ownership.
He told officials that he had put Siler in possession of his pet in order to allow her to breed it with another male parrot that she owned.
After being held at Macomb County Jail, the man was later released and the charges against him were dropped after authorities verified his claims. The parrot has since been returned to him.
Siler and Urbanczyk are being charged with three felonies, including making a false police report, as well as a misdemeanor charge of lying to an officer.
The Macomb Township couple has not yet been arraigned on those charges.