Kangaroo on the loose in Bessemer escaped from home where exotic pets are kept, police say

Kangaroo on the loose in Bessemer escaped from home where exotic pets are kept, police say

A kangaroo was spotted hopping through Bessemer on Sunday night.

Dee Miller, a Bessemer truck driver who took a video of the kangaroo and shared it on social media, said the kangaroo may have escaped from captivity at a home in the area.

“I’m sure they’re looking for it,” Miller said. “I’ve never heard of anyone (exotic animal owner) being here until I posted the video.”

Bessemer police Det. Justin Burmeister said the kangaroo’s owner apparently has a number of exotic pets at a home on Owen Avenue on Bessemer.

The kangaroo was spotted on Roland Avenue around 5:30 p.m., Burmeister said.

Miller said he was in a car with his mother on Sunday night when he noticed a large figure in the road about five blocks from where he lives in the Jonesboro-Burstall neighborhood.

They circled back for a closer look and it was a kangaroo. They followed for awhile to get video of it, and it hopped away.

“It was real fast,” Miller said.

Miller said the kangaroo was small, between two and four feet tall.

“I said, ‘Mom, you see that?’” Miller said. “There it was, a kangaroo standing right in the road. I said, ‘It’s a kangaroo, Mom.’ Then it went to jumping in the grass.”

Knowing nobody would believe him unless he had proof, Miller grabbed his phone and began recording video, which wasn’t easy.

“He was jumping so fast, it was hard to keep up with him,” Miller said.

Miller said he’s glad he caught the moment on video.

“I know people would have said, ‘No, ain’t no kangaroo in Bessemer.’”

Miller said he’s on the lookout in case other animals may have escaped from the same place as the kangaroo.

“There’s no telling what else could possibly be out,” he said.