Toucan flies loose inside Rotterdam police station after suspect is detained

The Rotterdam Police Department experienced a bizarre incident when a suspect brought a live, rare exotic toucan with him into custody on Wednesday.

The Rotterdam Suspect Tasks Team was processing the unnamed suspect at a local police station. Before the administrative intake formalities could even be finished, the toucan escaped from the suspect's possession and flew loose directly into the facility's reception area.

A brief, chaotic chase ensued through the station's intake room as officers attempted to secure the bird. Officers successfully captured the toucan safely without harming it.

The Rotterdam Animal Police were called to take custody of the bird. The toucan has since been transferred to a specialized wildlife shelter equipped to handle rare tropical species. The police chose not to reveal the identity of the suspect, why he was initially arrested, or how he came to possess a rare tropical bird in the Netherlands. While the bird was safely relocated, the man was "locked up as planned" to face his original charges.

The incident sparked massive amusement online because Dutch police officers frequently use the sarcastic phrase "Er staat hier geen toekan op het dak," which in English translates to "There is no toucan on the roof here" when booking uncooperative suspects.

The phrase is an inside-joke reference to the famous Van der Valk hotel chain in the Netherlands, which prominently features a toucan on its logos and rooftops. Officers use the phrase to remind rowdy detainees that the jailhouse is not a luxury hotel. The Rotterdam police noted on social media that the old joke had literally become reality.