Story Archive

You’ve Got Mail

The Sanford, Fla., Police Dept. agrees the 911 call was a little “out of the ordinary” — the caller said that a monkey was sitting on top of a neighbor’s mailbox, eating the mail. That was “not normal,” admits Public Information Officer Shannon Cordingly, even in Florida. For safety, five officers were dispatched to the scene, as well as at least two from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They successfully lured the monkey away from the mailbox — and onto the top of a police car, where it started tearing chunks off the car. About then the monkey’s owner appeared, and took 20 minutes to coax the animal into his arms. Officers “respond to some pretty serious, sad and horrific calls,” Cordingly said, so it was “nice” to have one that was “a little more lighthearted.” The bottom line, she said, is “Our officers are ready for anything — literally.” (RC/WTSP St. Petersburg) ...In Florida, they need to be.