COLUMBUS – Columbus zoo officials say they are pressing charges against a Gahanna man who jumped a fence to pet cougars, then posted his video on YouTube.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s office has charged a suspect with a misdemeanor count of trespassing, according to a release from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Tracy Whited says Joshua Newell, 35, was served Friday with a summons to appear in court Wednesday.
The video posted earlier this week shows an outer fence at the zoo’s North America exhibit being jumped, then two cougars being petted through another fence as a voice says things such as “Kitty, kitty, kitty.”
“Animal welfare and safety are two of our top priorities. Barriers, like the fence line at the cougar habitat, are in place to keep our guests and animals safe. The actions taken in this video were alarming,” said, Tom Stalf, zoo president and CEO.
A telephone listed to Newell’s suburban Gahanna address rang busy Saturday.