Rumson-Fair Haven Grad Charged After Eating Goldfish, Cops Say

RUMSON, NJ — A young man who graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School was arrested this Tuesday after he allegedly ate a woman's pet goldfish at Louisiana State University.

Maxwell Taffin, 22, was arrested by campus police at LSU, according to a report on local news in Louisiana.

The incident happened in October of 2016, when the victim allowed her ex-boyfriend and two of his friends to stay at her LSU dorm on the weekend of the LSU-Ole Miss football game.

The victim said that as the young men were leaving her room, Taffin allegedly remarked she should "check her fish tank" before hurrying out the door. That's when she noticed her pet goldfish was missing.

She reported the incident to campus police after she said she received a photo from Taffin's phone that showed feces in a toilet accompanied by the text "found your fish."

LSU arrest records said Taffin admitted swallowing the fish.

"Yeah, I'll be honest with you. I ate [the victim's] fish," said Taffin, according to the affidavit. Taffin also told police "a lot of people" use his phone because it isn't password-protected.

Taffin was arrested this past Tuesday after he was asked to appear for a criminal summons before LSU campus police, but failed to do so. He was charged with cruelty to animals and improper telephone communications.

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