VIDEO: Law enforcement wrangles escaped wallaby near Tacoma

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol Troopers teamed up to chase an escaped wallaby around the streets of Parkland on July 14.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol Troopers teamed up to chase an escaped wallaby around the streets of Parkland on July 14.

Law enforcement was dispatched to a traffic hazard at 158th and B Streets at 6:39 a.m., approximately 4 miles south of Tacoma. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office jokes that deputies were searching for a suspect 2-feet-6-inches tall with a long tail, big ears and tiny forearms.

“Washington State Patrol arrived and saw the suspect jumping in the roadway,” PCSO said. “They waited for backup before attempting to contact and detain him. Deputies helped setup containment as troopers and a couple of Parkland residents tried to wrangle this escaped marsupial.”

After several failed attempts to catch the slippery marsupial, a WSP trooper who formerly worked at a petting zoo with wallabies, was able to wrestle the wallaby into a bear hug and bring the escaped animal into custody.

“No deputies, troopers, kangaroos or wallabies were hurt in today’s incident,” the sheriff's office said. “But once again your deputies and troopers were able to stay one jump ahead of the suspect and take them into custody.”