Santa Rosa police officer catches wild goat, second in two years

A Santa Rosa police officer has proven himself to be the GOAT (Greatest of all time) when it comes to catching stray goats.

Officer Josh Ellsworth arrested the four-legged fugitive – Billy the goat – on July 21. It was the second such incident during Ellsworth’s time with the police, the agency said in a press release.

In June 2022, the officer caught his first goat.

Billy, who was part of a working group of goats stationed in the Mt. Olive area, escaped from his working group and was seen hopping between farms throughout the evening.

Police discovered Billy in the McDonald neighborhood around 8:50 p.m. and chased the goat for about twenty minutes, but without success.

“Billy was determined to stay free,” officials said in the news release. “He was fast and agile.”

However, Ellsworth was faster and was eventually able to catch Billy. The goat was not injured and was turned over to animal control, officials said.

Reach staff writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.