Here's a dispatch from Sgt. Dave Reagan, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff's Office:

"It was not so much a jail break as it was a wing break. Sgt. Jon Simbler at the Geiger Corrections Center discovered a large owl inside the perimeter fence Sunday and noted that it appeared to have a broken wing. It was cranky, he added.

Not wanting to risk the bird’s talons, he began calling around to see if he could locate professional help for the owl. A call to sheriff’s dispatch produced no results, nor did a call to the Washington State Patrol.

The WSP dispatcher said that although they dispatch for the state game department, they would only come if it was a spotted owl. Sgt. Simbler said it didn’t appear to have spots.

Finally, Lt. Mike Rohrscheib called a wild animal rescue group who put him in touch with a bird rescue specialist. “Marilyn” said that she hadn’t been in the business for a number of years, but knew of a veterinarian who treated birds if they could catch it.

“Watch out for the talons,” she added.

Rohrscheib kept looking and located a private wildlife specialist who took the owl into “custody” and drove it to the Jerry Ponti Veterinary Clinic. By now the bird was looking quite lethargic and its survival was in question.

However, on Monday the owl was described as getting stronger and eating and drinking. X-rays were planned and surgery is in the future if needed. On Tuesday, he was downright feisty.

Simbler Tuesday humbly reported that it was the entire staff at Geiger who displayed an overwhelming sense of duty to see that the owl survived."

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