Home Depot attack monkey owner arrested
The owner of a monkey that attacked a Home Depot employee before running wild in a Florida store was arrested for missing her court appearance.
Tina Ballard of Palatka, Fla. left her pet spider monkey unattended in a vehicle last month. The monkey, named Spanky, escaped the vehicle then entered a Home Depot store in Okeechobee. But not before the pet bit a Home Depot several times and scaled display racks in the store.
That attack resulted in several bite marks on the employee, who was outside on her break.
This was second incident involving the monkey at the Okeechobee location. An initial incident that also resulted in an attack on Home Depot employee was not initially reported to police.
A warrant was issued for Ballard’s arrest by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office for charges of failing to immunize her animal and culpable negligence. She now faces additional charges of tampering with physical evidence, according to a report by WPBF News.
Ballard was arrested in North Carolina by Linville Land Harbor police. The pet monkey was with Ballard at the time.
According to Florida Assistant State Attorney Ashley Albright, Ballard fled to North Carolina to avoid a court hearing. Albright also said that Ballard was hiding the monkey in North Carolina so state officials would not take Spanky away from her.
A court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20, according to court records, while Spanky has been sent to a preserve.
Tina Ballard of Palatka, Fla. left her pet spider monkey unattended in a vehicle last month. The monkey, named Spanky, escaped the vehicle then entered a Home Depot store in Okeechobee. But not before the pet bit a Home Depot several times and scaled display racks in the store.
That attack resulted in several bite marks on the employee, who was outside on her break.
This was second incident involving the monkey at the Okeechobee location. An initial incident that also resulted in an attack on Home Depot employee was not initially reported to police.
A warrant was issued for Ballard’s arrest by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office for charges of failing to immunize her animal and culpable negligence. She now faces additional charges of tampering with physical evidence, according to a report by WPBF News.
Ballard was arrested in North Carolina by Linville Land Harbor police. The pet monkey was with Ballard at the time.
According to Florida Assistant State Attorney Ashley Albright, Ballard fled to North Carolina to avoid a court hearing. Albright also said that Ballard was hiding the monkey in North Carolina so state officials would not take Spanky away from her.
A court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20, according to court records, while Spanky has been sent to a preserve.