Two llamas gave authorities in Sun City, Ariz., quite the chase on Thursday afternoon, delighting a global audience of people stuck at work with nothing better to do.
As the llamas escaped local law enforcement officers time and again, a live stream from ABC 15 became a treasured resource for untold numbers of llama-watchers. Every time the llamas escaped officers’ clutches, the people cheered.
not a single person is working right now
— . (@MarisaKabas) February 26, 2015
This actually a really good chase!
— Brett Rosner (@Brosner85) February 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/AlexCKaufman/status/571038871531753472
https://twitter.com/digimatized/status/571038922446409729
The best part of this whole llama thing is it illustrates the incompetency of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Dept.
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
#TrueDetectiveSeason3 pic.twitter.com/buFYLB7g7H
— . (@MarisaKabas) February 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/_Cooper/status/571040477438480384
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) February 26, 2015
Just when you think you’ve got them.
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
“Nah, we’re cool” http://t.co/bBo9OUZU37
Look at that juke! pic.twitter.com/kaFy5SSVZg
— Brett Rosner (@Brosner85) February 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/rachelzarrell/status/571040597252968451
“Can I live?” pic.twitter.com/jO52QkVprc
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
IT GOT AWAY HAHAHAHA
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/matthewbaldwin/status/571041178168111104
https://twitter.com/dmccabe/status/571042969127657473
Of course, people tied this story to the biggest news of the day: the FCC’s net neutrality vote.
Would there be llamas running loose in Arizona if the FCC hadn’t banned fast lanes? https://t.co/1mBY6g5m8z
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) February 26, 2015
ABC 15 eventually realized that it had gold on its hands and tried to capitalize on all the attention to its site.
OKAY…we will offer a FREE #ABC15 bumper sticker AND mug for ANYONE who catches these llamas! pic.twitter.com/l2xBUTzLVD
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) February 26, 2015
But darth was ready for them.
https://twitter.com/darth/status/571041238901587969
Eventually, authorities nabbed one of the two escapees, but his friend (parent? sibling? lover?) remained on the loose.
The Last Llama Standing pic.twitter.com/5wUfaEsQ4x
— Selena (@selenalarson) February 26, 2015
The white llama was caught shortly afterward. The Internet was not happy.
https://twitter.com/eaweiss/status/571043787566399489
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Benjamin Armbruster (@benjaminja) February 26, 2015
Meanwhile, the Arizona district’s representative in Congress knew just how to please his constituents.
Rep. Franks who represents the Arizona city with the llamas on the lose: “I’m sure they’re Democrats. They look like Democrats.”
— Ginger Gibson (@GingerGibson) February 26, 2015
The llamas may be in custody, but they’ll always be free on Twitter.
Screengrab via ABC 15 Live