A Stafford County Sheriff’s deputy tackled an unexpected suspect on Thursday afternoon—an injured bald eagle.
A little after 4 p.m. on March 10, Stafford County Sheriff’s Sergeant A.J. McCall and Deputy E.M. Brooks responded to a call near Montague Loop, close to the R-Board Regional Landfill, where an injured eagle, affectionately named “Flappy Gilmore,” was struggling to fly.
Despite his injury, Flappy Gilmore made a valiant effort to escape capture, managing only a few short flights before being intercepted by Sgt. McCall, who has now notched his 24th successful eagle rescue. In a lighthearted nod to the NFL, the sheriff’s office joked that, unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, McCall “was able to tackle an eagle.”
The bird was safely secured and transported to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center for rehabilitation. Officials hope the majestic raptor is suffering from nothing more than a “soar” wing and will be back in the skies soon.
The sheriff’s office praised the quick response of Sgt. McCall and Deputy Brooks, thanking them for their dedication to wildlife rescue.
Watch the amazing video of the rescue here:
