‘Does he eat carrots?’: Stray kangaroo 'arrested' in Florida
US police officers were called to capture an unlikely suspect bouncing through the streets of a Florida neighbourhood on Thursday, capturing the hilarious moment they had to ‘apprehend’ a kangaroo on body cam.
Fort Lauderdale police initially thought they were being called out to a ‘signal 69’ - a term usually reserved for cats and dogs on the loose - but clarification came over the radio that they were looking for a stray kangaroo.
“I’m trying to catch a kangaroo,” a police officer is heard saying over police radio as he drives to the scene.
“The kangaroo, were we able to… apprehend it?” an officer asks over the radio.
“At first we didn’t believe it, but when we got there it, sure enough, it was a kangaroo,” officer Robert Norvis told The Sun Sentinel.
When the officer arrives he spots a medium sized kangaroo calmly sitting in the middle of a residential road.
After leading police on a chase through three blocks, four officers surround the roo and start discussing ideas about how to lure the Australian native closer.
“Does he eat carrots?” one officer asks.
The police can be seen with huge smiles on their faces as they attempt to wrangle the lost kangaroo who seems oblivious to all the attention and he hops towards the officer with the body cam.
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A few moments later the officers manage to secure skippy with a makeshift lead, leaving the police baffled about what to do next.
“We actually captured the kangaroo, and no we don’t know where the owner is,” an officer says laughing over the radio.
“We can put him in my car?” one officer suggests.
It takes four police to place the kangaroo in the back of the patrol car and understandably, the roo doesn’t seem happy about being taken in to custody, showing some resistance for the first time.
“I’m so happy I have this on body cam, in how many years have you ever seen a kangaroo,” one officer can be heard saying.
Anthony Macias, 24, has since come forward claiming to be the kangaroos owner and told the local paper, The Sun Sentinel, that he was at work when he learned about the “arrest” of his “pet”, who he named Jack.
“He’s so nice, he doesn’t mean anyone any harm,” Mr Macias said.
Mr Macias said was awaiting a call to pick Jack up but instead, he was told by police that the kangaroo won’t be returned to him because it’s illegal to own kangaroos in Fort Lauderdale.
Mr Macias said he planned to enquire with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to find out what permits and licensing he needed for an exotic animal after he got Jack about four months ago from a man who was moving and didn’t want him anymore.
The @MyFWC will be taking care of the kangaroo rescued from wandering the streets of the city this morning. Fort Lauderdale code does not allow exotic animals like this within the city limits. @FTLCityNews @wsvn @CBSMiami @WPLGLocal10 @nbc6 @AC360 @ABC pic.twitter.com/n06Cg58xr6
— Fort Lauderdale Police (@FLPD411) July 16, 2020
Jack also shares a home with Mr Macias’ corgi named Max and their owner said they get along well.
“They love each other, they play and run around,” he said.
Jack was initially taken to a barn where police horses are usually kept and is now residing at the FWC.
Mr Macias said he plans to give Jack to friends in Palm Beach where exotic animals are permitted.
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