.It's something deputies say they've dealt with before: Monkeys on the loose in Currituck County.
Four monkeys broke out of their cage in the Wedgewood Lakes neighborhood of Moyock yesterday.
The Currituck County Sheriff says the owner could face charges
But right now they need to figure out which county ordinance applies to the situation.
Richard Shifflett owns the animals. NewsChannel 3 caught up with him yesterday as he was taking a monkey to animal control after it had been tranquilized.
He admitted at least one monkey has broken out before.
“One of them has got loose a couple times but we caught her, you know, it wasn't a problem. Ricky Strong lives nearby and says all four monkeys attacked him at one point. One nearly ripping off his thumb,” says Shifflett.
The sheriff says what happened could fall under a county ordinance prohibiting non-domestic animals.
But, she says since these monkeys have been on the loose before, the animals creating a nuisance ordinance could also apply.
The sheriff's office will be working with the county attorney to figure that out.
In the meantime, deputies say all of the monkeys will be quarantined for ten days.
And one who died during all of this will be tested for rabies.
Related:
Man’s thumb nearly bitten off after giving escaped monkeys an egg sandwich
