Grand theft turkey: Did Chapman University students steal bird from petting zoo?

Chapman University officials say they were “appalled” by allegations that two of the school’s students stole a turkey from Orange High School’s petting zoo as part of a prank.

Steven Thomas Koressel, 23, and Richard Brenton Melbye, 21, were booked on suspicion of grand theft, according to Sgt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department.

The high school students assigned to check on the animals at the petting zoo every day told police they saw the turkey, named Tim, on Saturday, but the 5-year-old bird was gone when they returned about 7 a.m. Sunday, McMullin said.

Police were notified Monday that “somebody had called in and said they located a turkey and (animal control officers) came and picked him up,” McMullin said.

Working with Chapman University’s campus security, police zeroed in on Koressel and Melbye, according to McMullin, who said it appears the abduction of the bird was part of a prank that only involved the two students.

Chapman officials were not allowed to go into detail about any disciplinary action, according to university spokeswoman Mary Platt.

The university, however, “will not tolerate any instances of theft, animal abuse or cruelty,” according to a school statement, which said Chapman officials were ‘appalled by this behavior” and the university “takes this issue extremely seriously.”

Animal control officials were called about 2 p.m. Sunday when someone found Tim near Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street “and corralled the turkey in her back yard,” according to Katie Ingram, assistant director of OC Animal Care.

“The turkey appeared friendly and in good condition aside from some broken or missing feathers,” Ingram said.

The turkey’s “caregiver” at the school noted some missing feathers from the turkey’s chest “and a sticky substance” on the bird’s head, but said he was otherwise OK, Ingram said.

“Based on the enclosure in which the turkey was kept at the school, we did not believe the turkey was able to get out on its own,” she said.

— Wire reports