A Phoenix mother and son say they are devastated after their escaped pet emu was killed when Mesa Police Department officers tried to capture the bird and force it into the back seat of their patrol car.
The bird, known as “Richard,” was known to occasionally escape his enclosure but always made it home alive.
On this occasion, a neighbor called the local police to help, but things took a tragic turn.
Officers attempted to lasso the six-and-a-half-year-old emu, but appeared to damage the bird’s long and fragile neck in the process.
Cellphone footage of the incident shows officers standing around the bird as it lies flat on the ground, apparently choking the bird after police tied it up.
Arizona police tried to confront a wandering emu but ended up killing it
The video shows officers struggling with the unusual pet as they try to get it into a police car
At one point, a police officer can be seen putting his hands around the bird’s neck before attempting to drag it into the vehicle
The officers had difficulty forcing the bird into the vehicle from the start
Footage of the failed “arrest” shows the bird struggling against two officers and flapping its wings wildly as it tries to free itself.
One of the officers could be seen putting his hands around the bird’s neck, while in another shot a rope could be seen around it.
At one point, both back doors of the patrol car were open and the officers appeared to drag him into the vehicle by his neck.
When that approach failed, the bird suddenly appeared lifeless, its long neck hanging upside down.
Police officers were then seen trying to revive the bird by giving it some water – but it was no use and the emu did not respond.
The officers tried to restrain the animal with a rope in the back of their patrol car
Officers then attempted to revive the bird by placing a bowl of water on the ground
The bird’s lifeless body lies next to the sheriff’s car
After the tragic incident, there was little officials could do
“You can’t lasso them around their necks and try to tug at them and get them to do what you want them to do.” “You’re going to kill them,” said the bird’s owner, Stephanie Moilan. to Fox 10. “It was so inappropriate. “It was completely unnecessary.”
Moilan described the unusual pet as “fantastic”.
“You could feed her by hand.” “I went out and petted her and cuddled her,” she added. “She was just so much fun,” Moilan said through tears. “I’m really going to miss her.”
Michael Davis, who captured the tragic chain of events on camera, says he believes the police response was heavy-handed.
“I don’t think it had to happen the way it did.” He was just very calm and just wondering. Not aggressive at all. “Non-threatening,” Davis said.
“Everyone who was out here and witnessed it asked, ‘Is it breathing?’ Are you suffocating it?’ The emu was clearly in distress and was kicking and screaming as officers tried to get her into the car. Then it stopped moving. Unfortunately, no one knew what to do at that point,” Davis told 12 News.
“You can’t lasso them around their necks and try to tug at them and get them to do what you want them to do.” “You’re going to kill them,” said the bird’s owner, Stephanie Moilan
The bird was seen running around but not behaving aggressively towards anyone
The emu, known as Richard, is seen in better times
Moilan’s child enjoyed playing with the bird and would regularly hose it down
Davis says officers were ill-equipped and untrained to handle the situation.
Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said officers arrived at the scene after a call about the loose emu and “during the confinement, the bird collapsed and died.”
Moilan disagrees with the police version.
“There was no lock-up. “I don’t think you need a lasso for that,” Moilan said.
“I think they were thoughtless. My 11 year old’s first response was, ‘Did they call animal control?’ Did they cause a wildlife response?’
In an online Facebook post, Moilan wrote: “We are absolutely heartbroken and devastated.” Richard was tortured and killed by #MCSO #maricopacountysheriff #richardtheemu on Thursday.
“Richard was my baby.” She was sweet, gentle, had a rocking mohawk, drummed like no other, loved snuggling, playing in the water, going for walks, knocking on the kitchen window, getting treats, being with her babies (the chickens). , loved pasta and brushing her hair with me. We loved Richard so much. She has brought so much joy, laughter, curiosity and love to my family, friends and I!! She doesn’t deserve this!’