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A Florida deputy goes viral after bodycam footage shows him chasing a runaway emu off a roadwayHe jokes, “I’ve never handcuffed an emu before,” before securing the bird’s legs to stop it from kickingThe sheriff’s office says the emu has been reunited with its owner and returned home safely
A Florida deputy is going viral after the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office shared a wild bodycam video on Facebook. The clip showed Cpl. Keisler responding to an unexpected call involving a runaway emu.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded Friday after reported of the large, flightless bird loose on County Road 13. The roadway was about 20 miles west of St. Augustine, and the video captured the chase from start to finish.
From the moment he got the call, Keisler sounded both amused and focused on the job. “Interesting, I’m in pursuit of an emu,” he says in the footage.
As he followed behind the bird, the deputy kept dispatch updated while the emu moved down the road. “I’m currently behind the emu,” he says, adding, “He’s running back southbound in the middle of the road.”
Emu.
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office
Keisler eventually got out of his patrol vehicle and tried to guide the bird away from traffic. “You have some big ol’ talons,” he says as he keeps his distance.
But the sheriff’s office said the emu wasn’t interested in cooperating once it was off the road. According to SJCO, it “ignored his commands,” kicked several times and “fled on foot recklessly.”
After a short chase, Keisler cornered the bird near what appeared to be the enclosure it may have escaped from. “I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never handcuffed an emu before,” he admitted.
Still, the deputy explained why handcuffs are the best option in the moment. “They’ll fit around his legs and that’ll keep him from kicking,” he says.
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According to the sheriff’s office, Keisler secured the emu using a makeshift lasso before restraining its legs to stop it from kicking. The lighthearted tone continued in the video as he asked, “Are you done resisting?”
“I don’t want to have to charge you — don’t talk back to me,” Keisler joked in the video. The sheriff’s office said he’d able to detain the emu without causing any harm or injury.
In the Facebook post, Keisler reflected on just how rare the moment was in his career. “In my 25 years, I’ve never handcuffed an emu,” he could be heard saying off camera, adding, “This is definitely a new one.”
According to SJCO, the emu was reunited with its owner and returned home safely. The sheriff’s office adds that “all criminal charges against the emu were dropped.”