Stray pig leads Carbon County deputies to marijuana plants

CARBON COUNTY, Utah — It wasn’t one of the “usual suspects” that had deputies from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office called to an area near Price.

And the pursuit that ensued Sunday afternoon led to an unexpected discovery.

“I’ve gone on cows, horses, sheep, goats, chickens, but I’ve never had to chase a pig,” said Kelsy Addley with the Carbon County Animal Shelter.

Addley had never found herself pursuing a “pork butt.”

“Well, ribs. I thought of ribs when I seen her,” she said.

The animal control officer was trying to round up a pig.

“She was eating their shoes!” said Addley. “She was knocking over flowers, and she was starting to chew on barbecue grills.”

It was time to call in backup.

“This pig was pretty fast, even for the four of us on scene, trying to contain it,” said Deputy Blayke Noyes with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. “It was a wild pig chase is what it was.”

Wild chases often go well into the weeds.

“And we couldn’t catch up with it or get the net over it,” said Addley. 

“The wind shifted and I was able to catch that odor,” said Noyes. 

But, little did deputies know, they would actually find some “weed.”

“Deputy Noyes was actually the one that noticed the marijuana and said, ‘Hey, that’s marijuana,'” said Sgt. Shawn Addley with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.

A pig on the lam had somehow led officers to the loot — seven full plants.

“Noticed there was a house close to the grow,” said Sgt. Addley. “Noticed there was a trail cam pointed at the grow.”

With the homeowner now getting a closer look because of the pot, that “pot”-bellied pig remains on the run.

“We actually lost sight of it at that point, and we think it actually knew right where to go,” said Noyes.

The unlikeliest of diversions may have saved its bacon.

The case may be closed for the pig, but again, not the alleged owner of the clandestine marijuana grow.

Deputies said the case is being screened by prosecutors.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The previous version of our story said the pig had been returned home, but deputies confirmed Tuesday the pig is still on the run.