A winter storm may have been brewing, but it was a different kind of tempest that stirred the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri on Friday. A spider monkey, clad in a pink tutu, escaped from a nearby home, creating a uniquely challenging situation for local law enforcement. Spotted near the intersection of two highways south of St. Louis, in the town of Otto, the primate’s escape proved to be a brief adventure.
The sheriff’s office, in a humorous Facebook post describing the event as “Bananas,” detailed the capture. Apparently, the monkey had cleverly opened a door and made a daring getaway. Deputies, however, were quick to respond. After “careful negotiations and some coaxing,” they successfully apprehended the small monkey and returned it safely to its caretaker. Photos accompanying the post showed a deputy kneeling, patiently coaxing the tutu-clad monkey, which then willingly approached and grasped the deputy’s hands.
This unusual incident served as a testament to the deputies’ adaptability. The sheriff’s office highlighted the situation as a perfect example of officers needing to be prepared for any eventuality, a sentiment underscored by the fortunate timing of the capture. A significant winter storm, bringing snow and ice, hit the region just hours later, closing roads and causing dangerously low temperatures. Had the monkey remained at large, the severe weather would have undoubtedly complicated the rescue efforts.