DALLAS (AP) — The man charged in the taking of two emperor tamarin monkeys from the Dallas Zoo has also been charged in two other recent incidents there involving holes that were cut in the fences for enclosures housing langur monkeys and a clouded leopard, authorities said Friday.
Davion Irvin, 24, has been charged with two counts of burglary to a building in connection with the cutting of the enclosure fences for the clouded leopard and langur monkeys, Dallas police spokeswoman Kristin Lowman said during a news conference. The langur monkeys didn’t escape and weren’t harmed. The leopard did but was later found safe near its pen.
Lowman said police were still investigating whether there’s any connection to the suspicious death of an endangered vulture at the zoo.
Irvin was arrested Thursday on six counts of animal cruelty — three each for the two emperor tamarin monkeys that were taken, police said. His bail was set at $25,000 and jail records didn’t list an attorney for him.
The tamarin monkeys went missing Monday and a cut was found in their enclosure’s fencing. the suspicious death of an endangered vulture.
After getting a tip, police found the small monkeys named Bella and Finn the day after they were taken. They were in the closet of a vacant home south of the zoo.
Earlier this week, police released a photo and a video taken from the zoo of a man they said they wanted to speak with about the missing monkeys.
Police said Friday that they arrested Irvin after receiving a tip that he had been seen near the animal exhibits at The Dallas World Aquarium. Responding officers saw him boarding the city’s light rail, and then spotted him a few blocks away, police said. He was then taken to police headquarters for questioning.
Original Story:
Dallas (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas police have arrested 24-year old Darvion Irvin Thursday night on six charges of animal cruelty in connection with two emperor tamarin monkeys recently stolen from the Dallas Zoo.
Police received a tip on Thursday that Irvin was seen at the Dallas aquarium near animal exhibits. When officers responded they saw Irvin get onto a DART rail. Officers later spotted Irvin in the 1400 block of Pacific and took him to Jack Evans Headquarters for questioning.
Several criminal incidents have taken place at the zoo in recent weeks. The charges are in connection to the tamarin monkey case. The monkeys had been recovered before the arrest.
The preliminary investigation and help from the public identified Irvin as a person of interest in the case. Irvin has been charged with six counts of Animal Cruelty- non-livestock.
In January, Dallas Zoo officials found two animal enclosures that appeared to have been intentionally cut. One of those incidents involved a clouded leopard which escaped but was later found; the other involved the enclosure for the langur monkeys. And, an endangered vulture was also found fatally wounded at the zoo in late January.
The DPD says that the investigation into all cases at the zoo are ongoing and further charges are possible.
(Copyright 2023 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News.)