A thrilling on-foot police chase ended Sunday night with one of Fairfax County’s Most Wanted being escorted by authorities onto a trailer. The fugitive? None other than a 20-year-old stray llama named Kolby.
Police first caught wind of the renegade llama after a bystander reported seeing her moseying about near the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road.
She was located shortly after with assistance from local animal protection authorities, Fairfax County Police announced. The llama, however, would not go gentle into that good night.
An unorthodox — and hilarious — chase ensued, with the department capturing overhead video of the nimble four-legged suspect giving pursuing officers fits. Radio transmission captured in the video footage is laced with the hysterical laughter of authorities after each failed attempt.
Did you hear about the llama on the loose in Fairfax County? Watch this snip it as our officers tried to help rescue this llama! More video coming soon! #FCPD pic.twitter.com/SV753bkOd9
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 20, 2022
“The llama’s putting up a fight but I think they got ’em,” one officer jokes in the clip.
“Llama drama! Our officers are prepared for anything,” the department wrote in a Facebook post following the incident. “That doesn’t mean we’re still not surprised when we get a unique call for service. Always ready to give chase when a suspect flees, our officers and animal protection police encountered a nimble, furry suspect Sunday night.”
The chase came to an end when officers located the llama enjoying a stroll in a residential backyard. Authorities then loaded the animal onto the trailer to transport it to a local animal shelter.
The shelter’s staff “provided her bedding, food, and water [and] immediately began searching for her family,” says Reasa Currier, the director of the Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering. “Kolby received a lot of attention from the shelter staff and seemed to enjoy all of it.”
County officials located the owner on Tuesday morning, Currier adds, noting that “he was eager to be reunited with his llama.”
In the end, a happy conclusion to a whirlwind of Kolby’s llama drama.
“Some people have all the luck,” one Facebook user commented following the comical chase. “I never encounter random llamas.”
We feel the same.
Feature image courtesy Fairfax County Police Department.
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