Creative Rescue at Sand Creek Park: Coon Rapids Police Officers Use Handcuffs to Free Trapped Hawk

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — In a heartwarming and unconventional rescue, Coon Rapids Police officers turned an ordinary weekend call at Sand Creek Park into an extraordinary example of creativity, compassion, and community service.

According to a report from the Coon Rapids Police Department, officers were dispatched to Sand Creek Park after a hawk became trapped inside the batting cages. The bird had gotten tangled in the enclosure’s netting and was unable to free itself.

With no standard animal rescue tools immediately available, officers improvised — using a pair of handcuffs to secure the batting cage netting high enough to create a safe opening. The clever maneuver gave the hawk the space it needed to spread its wings and fly free.

Department officials confirmed that the hawk took off “strong and healthy,” marking a successful and injury-free outcome for both the officers and the bird.

“Not your typical use of handcuffs,” the department wrote in a public statement, adding that the incident serves as a reminder that Coon Rapids officers are always ready to help — whether it’s people, pets, or even the occasional wild animal in distress.

The rescue highlights the department’s ongoing commitment to public safety and community care — demonstrating that service sometimes extends beyond human calls for help to the unexpected moments that connect people, nature, and compassion in the city of Coon Rapids.

MinneapoliMedia