Buckner told deputies the parrot, named Bird, was very well trained and would not leave the tree without his permission.
Deputy Shoana McKelvey went outside to check on the macaw and found it to be in distress with crows circling overhead.
McKelvey accompanied Buckner outside to retrieve Bird, which then appeared with the suspect in his booking photo and was allowed to wait with Buckner until a friend could pick up the animal and care for it while Buckner works to resolve his case.
"This was Mr. Buckner's pet. He has had this bird since it has been hatched. I could just tell how concerned he was when he went into custody, this bird was so special to him," McKelvey told KPTV.
"Our sheriff's office has very strong core values of doing the right thing. I also have very strong moral values of treating all people with compassion no matter what role I am taking. Mr. Buckner was already in a stressful position and did not need the additional stress and worry of his loved pet, Bird! Bringing the two together brought me joy and brought relief to Mr. Buckner and safety to his bird," she said in a sheriff's office news release.
