Feisty monkey on the loose bites neighbor, sparks unexpected rescue mission

HOUSTON, Texas (WOAI) — Police were called to a home in Houston Monday night after a report of a loose monkey had bitten someone.

“Somebody called dispatch, saying a monkey bit somebody,” explained Houston Police Officer Jessie Rodriguez. “When we got there, we found a monkey hanging from the axle of a truck. He looked pretty beat up. He had blood and throw-up coming from his mouth. He just looked in bad shape when we first saw him.”

When officers arrived at the home they found the monkey hiding underneath a truck. The monkey refused to come out, even after officers tried to coax it with food.

I really wasn’t expecting a monkey. It was a one-in-a-million thing when I got there. Yeah – so I have seen a monkey today, so,” said Officer Isaias Velazquez. “We wanted to get it, but knowing that it was already kinda feisty, having been attacked by a dog it was probably already in fighting mode.

Police called in animal control and with the help of a local organization that specializes in catching wild animals, they were able to successfully capture the monkey. The monkey was taken to a local animal shelter, where it will be evaluated and cared for.

“The people who found him say he belonged to the neighbors,” explained Officer Rodriguez. “He was kinda like - I don’t know how monkeys – they like scream a little bit. You know – like little screams. He was fine. You could tell that he was just glad that we were there to help him.”

Police are investigating the incident and trying to determine where the monkey came from.

“It’s definitely a first. It wasn’t something we were expecting when we got dispatched out there,” said Officer Rodriguez.