Slidell police nab winged 'burglary' suspect

It’s a plane, it’s a bird, no, its a burglar?

That’s what Felicia Carpenter thought on the afternoon of Dec. 5 when she came home from work to her residence at 1572 Fernwood in Slidell. When she got out of the car, several neighbors told her they had heard a loud crashing sound coming from her house. Carpenter noticed that the front window of her house was broken and a shadowy figure could be seen lurking in her living room. After some investigation, Carpenter and neighbors described the suspect as a large bird of prey. Carpenter called Slidell police who responded with four officers.

According to police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, said officers identified the suspect from its gang’s colors as a member of the red tail hawk species.

The raptor was strutting on top of Carpenter’s sofa and glaring menacingly at the officers as they peered in through the window. Seeing other police entering through the rear of the house, the hawk tried to fly away, but hit a painting of an egret on the wall.

Lt. Mark Cranford took control of the situation. Seeing that the bird had no hostages, Cranford ordered officers to enter the house. Cranford was armed with what Foltz called an “improvised tactical drape,” or an old shirt. Being trained in hostage negotiations, Cranford calmly spoke to the bird, “cooing clear verbal commands,” in an effort to defuse the tense situation. Cranford was able to throw the shirt over the raptor, and a rag was put over its head to calm it down.

Slidell Animal Control was called and Animal Control Director Damon Anti placed the hawk in what Foltz called “a portable imprisoning unit,” or dog cage. The raptor declined to make any statements while being taken to the animal control truck, Foltz said.

Anti examined the bird, and seeing that it was not damaged, released the raptor on his own recognizance, Foltz said. Anti said the bird took off immediately after the cage was opened.

During inspection of the house, police officers found a dead squirrel in the living room. Anti surmised the hawk was swooping down on the squirrel that was running across Carpenter’s lawn.

After “abducting” the rodent, the raptor was not able to recover from its dive, and subsequently smashed through Carpenter’s window.

Carpenter said she would not file criminal damage charges against the hawk for the broken window. Anti said he would take the squirrel corpse, and provide “proper interment” for the animal.

When informed of the incident, Police Chief Freddie Drennan said, “In all my years of being a police officer, this is a first where we have allowed the perpetrator to fly off without any concern for further prosecution.”