Monkey allegedly on the loose in Ohio park

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)-Police in Minerva Park in Columbus Ohio are still looking for an unusual animal on Lakewood Drive: A monkey.

A first shift officer first spotted the monkey around 11 a.m. Police say the officer got out of his cruiser and tried to approach the animal, but it ran away.

The police department, along with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, have been searching for the monkey ever since. They are not 100 percent sure what kind of monkey it is.

The Department of Agriculture said that if it is a howler monkey, they are aggressive and mean. Neighbors should not approach the monkey, and should report it if they spot it.

“Right now we are just trying to keep an eye out and let the residents know if they see it call it in, don’t try to approach it,” said Lt. Matt Delp, Minerva Park police.

That is because as funny as it might seem to have a monkey on the loose in a neighborhood, by Ohio law it is classified as dangerous wild animal.

“It is doubtful that it has stayed in this area,” said Jenny Lin. “I know my children they would tell me before they would play with it, because they would be so surprised to see it.”

Lin and her family, including three children, live on Lakewood Drive.

That monkey made its escape next door to Lin’s house.

“It had gone through this neighbor’s yard, over the fence to Alta Vista that way,” she said.

Dangerous or not folks, in Minerva Park are still having fun with the monkey’s appearance.

“We haven’t seen anyone around with an organ grinder,” said Lt. Delp.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture had their dangerous wild animal staff out trying to capture the monkey, but had no luck.

Ohio Department of Agriculture spokesperson Erica Hawkins said there are only 10 monkeys permitted in the state, all a different species than the one spotted. She said none of them live in the area around Minerva Park.