Jessica Durando

USA TODAY

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article misconstrued the meaning of the police department's quote involving the penal code.

A giant tortoise spotted wandering — albeit slowly — around California on Saturday has been reunited with its family, the Alhambra Police Department says.

"According to 21310 of the Penal Code, it is illegal to possess a "dirk."' (Dirk was what the police thought the reptile was named and also means dagger)

"We enjoy keeping families together, so an exception was made in this case," the department posted Sunday on Facebook.

The reptile, actually named Clark, weighs 150 pounds, and it took two officers to take it in to the local police station.

The police department joked on Facebook, "Almost had a pursuit!" adding "(and our cuffs ... well not practical in this situation."

Police said the tortoise had some distinctive markings.

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