NL police handle both escaped pig and purse snatching suspect
New London — At about the same time New London police were chasing a suspect in a purse snatching and burglary, Mayah escaped from her backyard on Brainard Street.
She’s supposed to be 30 to 50 pounds, like other pot belly pigs. “But she’s a little overweight. She’s about 110 pounds,” her owner, Chris Conroy said.
At 1:46 p.m. on Tuesday, police arrived at Norwood Avenue near Briggs Street to investigate a report of a burglary in a garage and a purse snatching, a news release said. A witness described someone fleeing on a bicycle, and pointed out the direction to officers.
Police canvassed the area and saw a man in the area of Hempstead
Street near Mercer Street. When he saw an officer, he dumped the bicycle on Hempstead Street and ran into the backyard areas off Brainard Street, the news release said.
“Officers could see the suspect jumping fences as he ran through several yards,” the release said.
Conroy and his wife, Dawn, live with their son, two small dogs and Mayah on Brainard Street. They used to keep the pig inside, but as Mayah grew, they decided that was impractical. Once, she foraged through cabinets and ate a pickle jar. They feared she’d eaten the glass, but she didn’t. Just the pickles.
Still, they decided keeping her outside was best, Chris Conroy said. Mayah, age 1, is his service animal, providing him emotional support, he said. She’s named after Oscar Meyer (think Boston accent when pronouncing “Meyer”). The pig’s “house” outside is a heated, upside-down hot tub.
On Tuesday afternoon, a judicial marshal saw a black and white pig wandering around near the courthouse on Broad Street. Two Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police officers happened to be at the courthouse at the time, and went outside to help.
A neighbor told officers where Mayah lived, and someone tried coaxing the pig with Doritos. But she was too upset. Environmental officers ultimately corralled Mayah on the lawn of the United Methodist Church.
New London Animal Control Officer Mike Martin said officers had the pig on a snare when he got there. He’s worked as a full- or part-time animal control officer for 33 years. He’s answered calls about pot belly pigs perhaps twice.
Mayah “was huge,” Martin said. Dawn Conroy said she had just gotten home from work when an animal control officer knocked on her door. Mayah was in the truck. “They could not get her out of the truck. She only comes to me because she knows my voice,” Dawn Conroy said.
Police arrested Eric Scott, 43, in the backyard of 29 Brainard St. Scott, with a last known address of 143 Midway Oval in Groton, was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, interfering with police, third-degree criminal mischief and violation of probation.
Chris Conroy doesn’t know who let out Mayah out, just that the gate was open. “I would have loved to have seen the look on his face, though,” he said. “Because just the shock factor would have been great.”