Officers responding to burglary at a salon are amazed after realizing who the 'furry' intruder was
A call about a break-in led Keokuk police to an unusual suspect — a young deer that had shattered the window of a local hair salon. The chaotic encounter, shared by the salon on Facebook, revealed the damage and confusion left behind when the animal tried to find its way back out. The incident began early in the morning at Tangles Hair Salon and Boutique when owner Tarla Price received a call from a co-worker who spotted a broken window. When Price arrived and saw blood across the floor and furniture knocked out of place, she assumed the salon had been burglarized and immediately contacted the police.
Responding officers quickly discovered through the body camera footage that a fawn was darting through the shop, visibly injured and panicked. The deer had attempted to escape through multiple windows, eventually backing itself into the rear office area. "Just stop, bro. I know you're freaking out. Chill for a second," one officer said, trying to calm the animal before it could injure itself further. Police eventually used a catch pole to guide the fawn out of the building and through the back door. Keokuk Police Captain Tanner Walden told WYMT News that the removal process was quick once officers were on the scene.
The police department later addressed the call in a light-hearted Facebook post, describing the suspect as "approximately 4 feet tall, with a furry appearance, and having 'doe' brown eyes." Photos shared online show the extent of the mess the deer left behind. A green cushion was soaked in blood, silver fabric covers were stained, and streaks of red lined the walls and windows. Footage also showed the deer’s escape attempts, with smudges and smears covering the glass it tried to leap through. A deer breaking into a property like this is not uncommon. In fact, a 2024 report states that deer-vehicle collisions cause over a million accidents and billions in damages each year in the US. States like West Virginia, Montana, and Pennsylvania face the highest risks, driven by overpopulation and rural road exposure.
Price, though stunned by the situation, said the community response was immediate and overwhelming. Despite the shock and the mess, Price said she felt lucky. "There were trails of blood all across the store and a few things were knocked over, but I'm thankful the damage wasn't too extreme," she said. A local glass company stepped in to replace the broken window, and neighbors brought food and support. "It's always amazing to me when something like this happens because random people you don't even think about care. Java River brought us coffee and sandwiches, and then my friends came, a couple of my coworkers, and her mom came and helped clean everything up," she said.
By noon, the store was back open for business. "It's really amazing to me how well our community comes together and says, 'Hey, she needs help,' and they send people right away," she said. Many expressed disbelief and support in the comments section of Price's post. Tamatha Welsh Royer said, "So crazy, so sorry this happened. I mean, you just can't make this up." Tarla Price replied, "It could have been so much worse. Thank you everyone, for the kind words. We got it cleaned up and opened by noon." Lacey N Harnish wrote, "I'm so sorry! I can't imagine the mess! That poor deer was probably terrified." Amy Mefford added, "What a bizarre thing. You really can't even make this kind of stuff up. I'm sorry you have to deal with it. I hope most things, including the deer, are ok."