Man arrested over stealing ex-girlfriend's chicken, sparks online buzz

A man in Washington of the United States was arrested after allegedly stealing his ex-girlfriend's pet chicken, an incident that has since gone viral online.

According to a video shared by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, the man broke into his former partner's home and ran off with a chicken named Polly, prompting her to call 911.

The woman told authorities that the man shouted, "I've got Polly" multiple times before fleeing the scene. Deputies later located him hiding in nearby woods, as shown in their bodycam footage.

"Don't hurt my chicken," the man pleaded tearfully while clutching the bird.

"That's fine. Just hold your chicken. I am not gonna hurt your chicken," an officer responded, instructing him to show his hands and come out of hiding.

The man eventually complied and was taken into custody, with the chicken safely placed in a patrol vehicle. Authorities confirmed Polly was returned unharmed to her rightful owner.

The Sheriff's Office captioned the video on X (formerly Twitter), "On Patrol. Deputies recover an abducted chicken."

The bizarre incident sparked a wave of humorous reactions on social media.

"Clearly this guy ran afoul of the law," one user quipped, while another joked, "It didn't even get the chance to cross the road." A third added, "Jeepers... poor guy. Maybe he just wanted to hang with the chicken."

The man now faces charges of burglary and violating an order of protection.