ORANGE – Tim the turkey, apparently stolen over the weekend from his pen at Orange High School, turned up smelling of beer, missing most of his tail feathers and in poor health.

Orange police on Monday arrested two Chapman University students, Steven Koressel, 23, a lacrosse player, and Richard Brenton Melbye, 21, in the incident, said Orange police Sgt. Phil McMullin.

Police said no other suspects are being investigated. Police didn’t immediately say what charges the students were being held on, but animal cruelty was not yet among them, McMullin said.

“We didn’t have sufficient evidence,” he said.

Police did not say what motivated the alleged theft of the bird.

Tim went missing between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, when Patti Williams, the school’s agriculture teacher, looked in on the animals.

“We’re very pleased they caught two people involved in this,” an emotional Williams said Monday night.

Williams put a bulletin on Facebook that included a picture of 5-year-old Tim. She emailed a captain she works with at OC Animal Care, which handles the city’s animal-control services. Around 2 p.m. Sunday, Tim was discovered near Glassell Street and Chapman Avenue, said Jennifer Hawkins, director of OC Animal Care.

Chapman Public Safety and Orange police investigated.

“He was wandering out in the street,” Hawkins said. “Several people got together and herded (Tim) into a backyard and called OC Animal Care.”

Tim had a black, sticky substance on him and was missing several chest feathers. He also had bruises, chest swelling, trouble breathing, abrasions to his face, head and chest, a broken toe and part of his tail was missing, Williams said.

“He smelled like beer and had been wet; his feet were damaged and his whole tail plump had been ripped out,” Williams said. “He was pretty stressed.”

A veterinarian saw Tim on Monday, but he will get a more thorough examination in Tustin on Tuesday, Williams said.

She added later: “His condition is declining at best. His chest and air sacs are compromised.”

Tim was the first animal to be taken in Williams’ 18 years of teaching at Orange High.

“I always worry about security, because I have several animals out here,” Williams said. “If they take a turkey, what else are they going to take?”

The campus houses about 60 animals, including cattle, a llama and chickens.

There are security cameras, and footage is going to be reviewed, Williams said.

“We need to do a better job making sure (campus) gates are locked,” said Principal Dennis McCuistion. “We’re going to try and control the things we can control.”

Chapman confirmed the arrests Monday night.

“Two Chapman students have now been identified and arrested by the Orange Police Department in the incident in which the turkey was abducted from Orange High School. In addition to any criminal charges from OPD, the university will also undertake appropriate disciplinary actions,” the school said in a statement.

“Due to federal student privacy laws … the university cannot identify the students or reveal details of the institution’s disciplinary actions – however, the university will not tolerate any instances of theft, animal abuse or cruelty, is appalled by this behavior, and takes this issue extremely seriously.”

Koressel and Melbye were being held in Orange County jail. No bail information was available.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or aduranty@ocregister.com