Maria Fuentes The head of the mascot for Kickin’ Chicken in Rockville was reported stolen to city police June 20.

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Alison Bryant/The Gazette The mascot at Rockville’s Peruvian Kickin’ Chicken, a 5-feet-6-inch chicken costume, lost it’s head June 20.

Maria Fuentes The head of the mascot for Kickin’ Chicken in Rockville was reported stolen to city police June 20.

 

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A single-page, handwritten letter now hangs in the window of Rockville’s Peruvian Kickin’ Chicken for all to see.

An apology to a wronged bird and its owner.

“Dear Kickin Chicken [sic],” the letter begins. “I am without a doubt deeply sorry for my immature actions of stealing your chicken head. I did not mean any harm to your business of any kind.”

The letter is penned, the restaurant’s owner believes, by the young man, 18, who took the suit-and-sunglasses-wearing head of the bistro’s mascot. Custom-made in Peru, the $700 costume usually sits outside the restaurant when no one dons the yellow feathers to dance along the roadside.

The missing head of the costume that sits outside Kickin’ Chicken came home to roost Sunday, said owner Maria Fuentes.

A mail carrier noticed the head of the chicken mascot in a car parked in front of a house, Fuentes said police told her. The mail carrier noted the car’s license plate number and contacted Rockville City Police with the information.

The chicken had been without its head since June 21, when Fuentes called the police to report it missing.

When asked whether Fuentes’ story held true, Sgt. John Converse of Rockville police said her account can be trusted.

Police likely will seek criminal charges, Converse said, but will take into account the owner’s feelings on the matter.

Police would not release the names of the two suspects as of Tuesday evening.

But Fuentes received a signed apology note, dated Saturday, from one of the people she believes was involved.

“I have the letter,” Fuentes said. “He signed it and we put it on the window so people could read it.”

The letter is proof that the chicken head was, in fact, stolen, and not a publicity stunt, Fuentes said.

Relaxing at the beach when she got the call, Fuentes said an employee informed her that the head found its owner.

Though Fuentes said she was not surprised the police tracked down the head, she did expect the recovery to come about through social media outlets such as Facebook or Twitter instead.

“I thought that they were going to take a picture and send it to friends,” Fuentes said.

She said she does not want those responsible to face criminal charges.

abryant@gazette.net