Stamford police catch suspect with garbage can after 45 minute pursuit

It took officers 45 minutes to catch a wandering pig in Stamford, Conn., on Friday, April 17, 2020. It took officers 45 minutes to catch a wandering pig in Stamford, Conn., on Friday, April 17, 2020. Photo: Contributed Photo / Stamford Police Department Photo: Contributed Photo / Stamford Police Department Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Stamford police catch suspect with garbage can after 45 minute pursuit 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD — City police officers chased a suspect on foot for 45 minutes Friday before one officer trapped the suspect under a garbage can.

It started out with multiple calls to police about an animal wandering around the neighborhood near Roxbury Road.

And the callers all reported the same animal: a pig.

Responding officers — Michael Nguyen, Louis Vidal, and Nicholas Gelonesi — soon found the pig in the area of Winding Brook Lane.

The trio tried to catch the pig, eventually leading to easily one of the all-time best videos caught on an officer’s body camera footage.

Police released the footage Saturday.

In the footage, the officers can be seen chasing after the pig, trying to catch him with a garbage can. Every so often, the pig let out little squeals.

Then the camera quickly switches to another video, now showing officers in what appears to be a resident’s front yard. The footage shows one officer standing about 30 feet away from the pig, with the pig staring directly at him.

“Oh, it’s a stand-off, it’s a stand-off,” one of the officers jokes.

At one point, the pig ran between an officer’s legs before Nguyen quickly tossed the empty garbage container on top of the pig and ending the lengthy foot pursuit.

“It took over 45 minutes of chasing the pig to finally catch him and get him under control,” police said, adding, “Oh yes, we are all aware of the plethora of jokes this incident brings to mind.”

Neither the pig nor the officers were injured during the incident.

But while the pig is now safe, his owner or owners still haven’t been found.

He is resting comfortably at Stamford Animal Control for the time being as the hunt for his owner (or owners) continues.

Anyone who recognizes the pig, or knows his owner, is asked to call 203-977-4437.