Fort Lauderdale Cops Chase Runaway Kangaroo: WATCH

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — If you happened to have your police scanner tuned to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Thursday morning you would have heard something like this:

OFFICER: "That's a big kangaroo. I'm trying to catch a kangaroo."

MALE VOICE ON RADIO: "In reference to that kangaroo, were you able to apprehend it?"

OFFICER: "Eysh!"

FEMALE DISPATCHER: "I guess we'll find out in a couple minutes if you are able to."

OFFICER: "I don't know what they eat (laughter)."

So went the great marsupial chase, which lasted about 30 minutes, according to Sgt. DeAnna Greenlaw of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

"We received a call today around 9 a.m. The caller said there was a kangaroo hopping down Andrews Avenue," Greenlaw shared.

She told Patch officers tracked the two-year-old kangaroo named "Jack" to a residential neighborhood in the 1300 block of NE 2 Avenue.

"They grabbed what they use as a leash whenever they have a stray dog," she said of the team that wrangled Jack. "There’s been times when they’ve taken in an alligator before."

But never a kangaroo.

Much like some of the spring breakers who visit Fort Lauderdale and enjoy themselves a little too much, Jack wound up in the back of a police car.

Watch the chase below courtesy of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department:

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Jack's owner, identified as Anthony Macias of the 1400 block of N. Andrews Avenue, told reporters he was given the animal four months ago as a pet by someone who moved out of the area.

"The owner was not aware that he was in violation of code by having a kangaroo at his house within the city limits," Greenlaw said.

The city's Chaz Adams said Macias was given a $100 citation for keeping a wild animal contrary to a city ordinance which states: "It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or to permit to be kept any wild or vicious animal as a pet."

Macias was also given misdemeanor citations from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.

Jack was taken to the Fort Lauderdale Police Mounted Patrol barn for a time before being placed in the care of FWC.

Greenlaw described Jack as "extremely nice" during the brief time she spent with him. She said the officers who chased Jack down will have stories to tell for some time.

"I think the entire law enforcement community across the nation is on edge," she confided. "It was nice for them to have a little bit of a break from that."