http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local...local-headlines
Officers caught off-guard by chimp
By Eve Sullivan - Staff Writer
October 21, 2003
STAMFORD -- Police and animal control officers were ill-equipped to handle the 175-pound chimpanzee who got loose Sunday night and ran around a downtown intersection for two hours.
Neither department had a tranquilizer gun to subdue the precocious primate, named Travis. Officers tried to borrow one but could not.
"We don't have that equipment and there are very few agencies who do," said Lynn DellaBianca, manager of the Stamford Animal Control Center.
Neither department is certified to have a tranquilizer gun, DellaBianca said, and there are "a lot of liabilities" with owning such equipment.
The chimp's owners, Sandra and Jerome Herold of Stamford, have not been charged but DellaBianca and police said they will continue investigating the incident. Travis was at home with his owners yesterday afternoon.
"We have no facilities to even hold an animal like that," DellaBianca said.
An animal control officer called the state Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies yesterday to make sure it is legal to own a chimpanzee, DellaBianca said.
It is not illegal to own an exotic pet in Connecticut, but a new law requires new owners to have permits. The law is not retroactive so it does not apply to the Herolds.
Still, the owners should take precautions, DellaBianca said.
"Certainly a lot of bad things could have happened (Sunday) night," she said. "In addition to the animal getting shot and killed on the street, it could have attacked someone."
Chimpanzees are very powerful, DellaBianca said, and animal control officers will discuss safety with the owners.
"I think we need to . . . advise them that they can't be riding around with this thing in the vehicle if it can get out," DellaBianca said. "The owner is responsible, and if it got out once, it can get out again."
Three officers came into contact with Travis during the incident, but no one was seriously injured, police said.
"I have a bruise on my right leg, where the chimp grabbed me," Sgt. Richard Phelan said. "But he didn't break the skin or anything, so I'm not worried about it. It was a playful grab."
Phelan said the police were "a little worried" about Travis biting someone, but no officer drew a gun at any time.
"We had it in the car within 15 minutes, but we didn't know the monkey knew how to open the door and get back out," Phelan said.
According to a police report, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Atlantic Street and Tresser Boulevard shortly before 10 p.m. The first officer found Travis on a leash on Tresser Boulevard near the parking lot behind Rich Forum.
Police blocked Tresser between Washington Boulevard and Atlantic Street, and the sidewalk in front of St. John's Towers.
Jerome Herold, owner of Desire Me Towing, told police he slipped and fell chasing the chimp and cut his face and hands. Sandra Herold said they went to their towing company on St. Mary's Street and were on their way back home to Rockrimmon Road when Travis escaped from the front seat of their Toyota 4-Runner.
They were traveling west on Tresser Boulevard and stopped at a traffic light at Washington Boulevard when a young man saw Travis and threw something at him, Sandra Herold said.
Travis, whose window was rolled halfway down, was struck by the object, according to the police report. The chimp let out a surprised grunt and became excited. He unbuckled his seat belt, opened the door and ran out, she said.
Jerome Herold jumped out to get Travis and Sandra pulled the sport utility vehicle to the back of the Rich Forum. Travis was "very excited" and wanted to play; he did not want to get back in the SUV, the police report said.
Police, particularly Officer David Dogali, who the chimp seemed to like, tried to coax Travis back into the SUV, the report said.
At about 10:30 p.m., police asked for animal control officers to respond with a tranquilizer gun. Police then learned Stamford animal control officers were meeting with Norwalk animal control officers and a veterinarian to obtain a tranquilizer gun.
Police coaxed Travis into the SUV twice, but the chimp kept getting back out before the doors could be locked. They also tried to get Travis into the rear of a police car, but he would jump onto the seat and right back out.
Officers used cookies, macadamia treats and ice cream to coax Travis into the vehicle, but nothing worked. About midnight, Travis began to tire and Dogali got him into the Herolds' SUV.
Police followed the Herolds to Rockrimmon Road, where they brought Travis into the house. At about 12:15 p.m., animal control officer Tilford Cobb arrived to tell police he was unable to find a tranquilizer gun.
According to police, the 10-year-old chimp is toilet trained, dresses himself, takes his own bath, eats at the table and drinks wine from a stemmed glass. He brushes his teeth using a Water Pik, logs onto the computer to look at pictures, and watches television using the remote control, police said.
When he was younger, Travis appeared on TV commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola, made an appearance on the "Maury Povich Show" and took part in a television pilot.
Through the Herolds' towing business, the chimp has gotten to know several police officers. According to the police report, the chimp thought that the officers who tried to contain him Sunday night were playing.
Copyright © 2003, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
