LEDE: Early Monday morning, an incident unfolded at the Swine Unit of Pierce College, leaving the campus community in shock and intrigue.
Deputy Steve Steggler’s report from Jan. 12 reveals that while patrolling the campus at 4 a.m., he noticed flashing lights near the Swine Unit. Steggler promptly called for backup, and Officer Peter Patter joined him as they approached the scene. The officers discovered two individuals inside the Swine Unit, engaged in a bizarre chase with the pigs. Amid the darkness, they commanded the men to raise their hands and took defensive measures, firing shots to deter them. One of the men managed to evade capture, despite the warning shots.
Arrested was William Wart, a 19-year-old student enrolled in the Pierce agriculture program. Wart resides on Roseville Road in Woodland Hills. He disclosed that his roommate, Tod Terror, 18, who is also a Pierce student, had managed to escape during the encounter. The authorities subsequently transported Wart to LAPD West Valley Division, where he faced charges related to grand theft. Inside the Swine Unit, law enforcement discovered a 1994 red Ford pickup truck, its camper shell containing three pigs. Surprisingly, the truck was registered to Tod Terror at the same address as Wart.
In response to the unfolding situation, Mick Sears, the chair of the agriculture department, provided insight into the suspects’ background. Both Wart and Terror are agriculture majors at Pierce and expressed their aspiration to establish a joint farming venture. Despite the concerning incident, Sears expressed his belief that the situation might be a misunderstanding, downplaying the gravity of the events.
Further inquiries with Officer Helen Hart of the LAPD West Valley Division indicated that efforts were underway to locate and apprehend Tod Terror. Meanwhile, William Wart remained in custody with bail set at $5,000. The preliminary hearing for Wart was scheduled for January 15th, shedding light on the impending legal proceedings that would follow this perplexing encounter.
In the wake of this unusual occurrence at the Swine Unit, the campus community is left grappling with questions about the motivations behind the incident and the fate of the two individuals involved.
