Virginia Police Caught a Runaway Sheep After a "Food Pursuit." Now They Need to Know Whose It Is.

MANASSAS PARK, Va., Oct. 30, 2026 — Police in Manassas Park have a suspect in custody. It is a sheep, and nobody knows where it came from.

Officers found the animal loose Wednesday near Nancy Street in the Blooms Crossing community and detained it after what the department called a "food pursuit" that ended in someone's backyard, WJLA 7News reported. In the department's social media post, the phrase came with a running emoji and a lettuce emoji, which explains most of the chase.

The sheep was taken into custody "safe and sound," police said, and the department wrote up the arrest the way it might any other.

"The suspect has declined to comment and has been less than cooperative, but appears to be in good spirits," the post said, according to InsideNoVa.

"No charges have been filed at this time," police added, "but we do suspect a few outstanding baaa-violations."

What police don't have is an owner. The department is asking anyone missing a four-legged fugitive to call it at 703-361-1136.