A loose kangaroo led Texas police on one of the strangest pursuits of the week, and thankfully, nobody needed to explain it to their insurance company afterward. The escape artist, a kangaroo named Bingus, slipped away from a local wildlife rescue in Waco, sending officers, handlers, and social media users on an unexpected adventure.
Normally, when we cover police pursuits at Guessing Headlights, there is at least some automotive angle involved. This one is admittedly a little outside our usual lane, but for the first day back after a holiday weekend, it was exactly the kind of chase we needed.
The Waco Police Department shared video of the chase, joking that what was once an unusual call has become “roo-tine” after Bingus managed to escape yet again. According to the department, the repeat offender was safely returned home without anyone being injured.
The video quickly went viral, generating thousands of reactions from viewers debating everything from kangaroo-handling techniques to whether Bingus deserves his own mugshot after multiple alleged escape attempts.
Bingus Sends Police On Another Chase
The Waco Police Department said Bingus escaped from a local wildlife rescue before officers became involved in what the department jokingly called a “hop pursuit.” Fortunately, police reported the kangaroo was returned home safely and that nobody was injured during the chase.
Commenters familiar with the animal quickly pointed out this was not Bingus’ first unauthorized adventure. The police department acknowledged in the comments that they previously dealt with the same kangaroo during an earlier escape last September. That revelation only added to the amusement, with many commenters joking that Bingus has become a repeat offender and is rapidly building a reputation around town.
Others seemed impressed that a kangaroo managed to keep multiple adults jogging across a field while looking like he was barely exerting himself.
The Tail Debate Took Over The Comments
As often happens on the internet, the comment section eventually became almost as entertaining as the video itself.
Many viewers questioned footage showing Bingus being guided by his tail after being captured. Some commenters argued the technique could injure the animal, while others claimed experienced handlers sometimes use the base of a kangaroo’s tail to safely control an escaped animal when necessary.
The Waco Police Department responded to several of those concerns, explaining that the person handling Bingus in the video was actually the kangaroo’s owner. The department also emphasized that Bingus returned home safely. By the end of the discussion, the debate over proper kangaroo-handling techniques appeared to be generating nearly as much attention as the escape itself.
Probably Not The Weirdest Call Of The Year
To Waco PD’s credit, the department seemed fully aware of how ridiculous the situation looked.
The agency filled its post with kangaroo puns, joked about “hop pursuits,” and responded to commenters asking whether Bingus should be recruited as a K-9 officer. At one point, the department even joked that officers now have PTSD from repeatedly chasing the same escape artist.
Police did not release booking information, a mugshot, or any details regarding possible charges. Bingus was returned home pending what appears to be an ongoing investigation into repeated acts of unauthorized hopping.
For now, the kangaroo is back home, Waco officers can return to more traditional police work, and Bingus remains undefeated in the battle for becoming Texas’s most famous marsupial.