Monkey captured near hospital after multiple escapes


An escaped monkey was recaptured by a police officer Thursday afternoon, with the help of a family member of the owner, WSOC-TV reported.
The monkey was spotted in the same hospital parking lot it escaped from Wednesday.
The Capuchin monkey named Carter was safely taken to the Animal Care and Control facility and placed in an isolation area until the county health department determines the best rabies quarantine or testing protocol.

Carter got loose more than once and slightly scratched a security guard Wednesday at the Carolinas Medical Center in the University area, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department report.

Animal Control responded to a call for service shortly after noon Wednesday in the parking lot of the medical center. 

WSOC-TV obtained video of what appears to be Carter at CMC University on Wednesday, shot by Instagram user marktheproblem.

CLICK HERE to view the video on Instagram.

Carter was contained by a security guard and placed in a parked car, but escaped again before the Animal Control officer arrived.

Carter then was caught by a hospital maintenance worker, but the monkey scratched the worker and escaped again.

In a March 2014 incident involving the same monkey, police said the owner failed to produce Carter for seizure as it was violating a city ordinance that prohibited an exotic animal in city limits.
 
A search warrant was issued for the monkey to be seized because the owner was unwilling to voluntarily turn over the item.

The hospital released the following statement:

“Yesterday, Carolinas HealthCare System University was visited by a small monkey that apparently escaped from a car parked  in our visitor’s parking lot. The monkey never entered the hospital and was apprehended outside by a hospital maintenance worker who placed it in a bin until animal control arrived and took possession of the animal.

“The maintenance worker was slightly scratched by the monkey and is receiving appropriate treatment.  At some point thereafter, the monkey again escaped and headed for a wooded area adjacent to hospital grounds.  Animal Control conducted a search of the wooded area yesterday and again this morning.  At this time, it is unknown if the pet’s owner has retrieved it.  Hospital staff remains vigilant in case the animal reappears on hospital grounds.”

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