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Goat on the lamb? Deputy helps fugitive pet return home

Before he responded to the scene, Olmstead County Deputy Tyler Heiden stopped by a local pet supply store and grabbed some rope to create a lasso.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Those involved in law enforcement will tell you Forrest Gump pretty much had it right: Every day on the job really IS like a box of chocolates.... you never know what you're gonna get.

Olmstead County Deputy Tyler Heiden stands as proof. On Sunday, he was on patrol when he received word that his colleagues with the Rochester Police were trying to capture an escapee. Not all that unusual, except this fleeing suspect was a goat.

On his way to the call, Deputy Heiden swung by pet supply business Leashes and Leads to borrow a length of rope, which he fashioned into a lasso. Heiden then arrived at a residential home where the wayward goat was hanging out and eating grass.

The deputy's body cam was rolling as he approached, and the goat dashed through some bushes to make a run for it. Soon, however, the goat doubled back and tried to run past Heiden, who then channeled his inner cowboy and lassoed the critter.

Law enforcement transported the escapee to animal control, where the goat was soon reunited with its owner.

Olmsted County Sheriff's Office Safely Lassos a Loose Goat!
On Sunday, Dec. 17, at approximately 11 a.m., Olmsted County Sheriff's Office Deputy Heiden self-dispatched to the City of Rochester to assist the City of Rochester, MN Police Department in capturing a goat. Before he arrived, he stopped at Leashes & Leads to borrow a rope. Ultimately, the goat was safely captured and handed over to Rochester Animal Control Shelter MN. The goat was later reunited with its owner. Excellent work, Deputy Heiden! We'd like to say... Deputy - 1 Goat - 0 ...but in the end, it was a win-win. #RochMN #OlmstedCounty
Posted by Olmsted County Sheriff's Office on Monday, December 18, 2023

Olmstead County Sheriff's officials posted an action-packed video of the incident on their Facebook page, ending it with a disclaimer: "No goats were harmed in the making of this video."

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