ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A loose emu sparked an unusual pursuit in St. Augustine last week after escaping its owners and running loose along a county road, briefly turning the tables on a responding sheriff’s deputy.
According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called Friday after reports of a large bird running freely through traffic, creating a potential safety hazard for drivers and residents.
Deputy Responds to Unusual Animal Call
Corporal Keisler was dispatched to the scene and arrived to find the emu darting back and forth across the roadway. Body camera footage shows the deputy attempting to assess the situation while the bird remained highly energetic and uncooperative.
“Interesting, I’m in pursuit of an emu,” Keisler said, as captured in the video.
The deputy tried to coax the bird toward him by calling out and gesturing, but the emu appeared unimpressed and kept its distance.
Emu Resists Capture and Charges Toward Deputy
When Keisler attempted to grab the emu, the bird quickly escaped his hands and ran back toward the road. The emu’s powerful legs and speed made the situation more challenging, forcing the deputy to redirect the bird away from traffic and toward a nearby wooded area close to its home.
Emus are known for their strong legs and sharp talons, which they use to defend themselves by kicking.
Handcuffs Become an Unexpected Solution
After struggling to control the bird, Keisler improvised.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never handcuffed an emu before,” he said, explaining that restraining the legs could prevent the bird from kicking.
Using a makeshift leash to prevent the emu from running, the deputy attempted to place handcuffs around the bird’s legs. The emu resisted, lunging toward the body camera at one point.
“Are you done resisting?” Keisler joked. “I don’t want to have to charge you.”
Situation De-escalates as Emu Calms Down
As the encounter continued, the emu gradually became more compliant. Keisler was eventually able to secure both legs with handcuffs and step back.
“Look at that, I have a full set of cuffs on this emu,” he said, turning the camera toward the bird, which still attempted to nip at him.
Owners Safely Recover the Emu
The final moments of the body camera footage show the emu’s owners arriving and calmly guiding the bird back to its enclosure without further incident.
In a statement, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said Corporal Keisler handled the situation carefully and ensured the animal was not harmed.
“All criminal charges against the emu were dropped,” the agency added.
The incident has since drawn attention for its unusual nature and the deputy’s calm handling of a rare and unpredictable encounter.
