Escaped Pet Monkey Terrifies Fla. Neighborhood



ABC News' Anthony Castellano reports:

Chaos erupted in Sanford, Fla., when a pet monkey broke loose from his cage and began roaming the streets.

Zeke led police on a wild chase Sunday, injured at least two people and sent residents scurrying for safety.

"It lunged at me you know it came at my legs so I just kind of kicked it. Tried to fling it off my leg like that and it did back off for a little while," said Samuel Boylston.

"He actually came up and jumped up and tried to bite my arm right here. And his last tooth just kind of nicked it," said Jason Diel.

Zeke traveled from house to house, jumping on a police car and even nibbled on a satellite dish. Jeff Jacques, Zeke's owner, says the 4-year-old Pigtail Macaque freed itself from his backyard cage.

"He ripped this chain back this way, ripped that, pushed that chain up and broke the stanchions of the railing. He's Houdini," he said.

Animal control officers closed the streets around Zeke and he was finally captured by his owner unharmed.

"He's just too big, too strong, and he's going to get stronger," said Jacques.

In July, two powerful adult chimps broke loose from their cage in a Las Vegas backyard. Witnesses reported the chimps banging on a police car before two tranquilizer darts subdued the female chimp, C.J.

The male chimp, Buddy, was shot dead by an officer with a shotgun when he charged a group of bystanders. No one was injured during the 30-minute ordeal.

As for Zeke, his owner is taking him to an animal refuge today, because this is the second time he has escaped since last month.