Owner cited after Indianapolis monkey's escape. Here's where Momo is now

An Indianapolis man has been cited after his pet monkey escaped from his east-side yard and roamed the city’s streets, prompting 911 calls, before the animal was captured Thursday morning.

“I believe for the monkey chasing and approaching in a menacing fashion,” said Katie Trennepohl, deputy director of Indianapolis Animal Care Services, when asked what the citation was for.

Her office is still working with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to determine if any further legal consequences are necessary, Trennepohl said.

It’s unclear if Momo, an adult male patas monkey, will ever return to his home near the 500 block of Ironridge Court, from which he escaped around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Momo was placed into an animal control vehicle and was in the process of being transported to the Indianapolis Zoo on Thursday afternoon. He will be evaluated and held at the zoo until authorities decide if he will be returned to his owner, Trennepohl said.

How did Momo the monkey escape?

The patas monkey either removed or chewed through a bungee cord that was holding a tarp in place before he jumped over a fence and escaped. He was on the run until late Thursday morning, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

How was Momo the monkey captured?

Police received calls about a monkey charging and running toward people on the east side of Indianapolis shortly after Momo escaped Wednesday, said IMPD Lieutenant William Carter.

"We have not been made aware of anybody that was actually (bitten) or injured by the monkey,” Carter said.

Police and animal care officers searched for about 3.5 hours Wednesday night, but couldn’t locate Momo. At about 8 a.m. Thursday morning, another 911 call came in regarding the monkey.

More on Momo the monkey: Monkeys can be dangerous and shouldn't be kept as pets, sanctuary director warns

“The caller stated that the monkey was on her back porch attempting to gain entry into her residence,” Carter said.

Momo ran into a wooded area after officers arrived. Authorities searched for him in the woods for several hours, but they couldn’t locate him.

He was once again spotted on the street on the east side of the city late in the morning Thursday. Around 11 a.m., Momo entered a vacant home that was under construction.

An officer shut all the doors to the home and Momo was captured in a bathroom. His owner's brother came to the home to help apprehend Momo before the monkey was turned over to Animal Care Services, Carter said.

Where was Momo living before his escape?

There were no concerns of mistreatment inside Momo’s owner’s home when animal care officers responded Wednesday.

"It was very clean,” Carter said. “There was an outside structure that is for the monkey that is very large."

Still, Eileen Dallaire, executive director of the Primate Rescue Center in Nicholasville, Kentucky, told IndyStar that monkeys do not make good pets.

Monkeys are social creatures and want to be with others of their kind, Dallaire said.

“The overall lesson is that primates do not belong in private homes," she said. "Incidents like this occur and put the community at risk, put the children in the community at risk, put small animals at risk.”

Is it legal to own a pet monkey in Indianapolis? 

The municipal code has a section on ownership of “wild or dangerous animals.”

The code allows for ownership of these animals in the city, but they must be registered with animal care services. It is unlawful to own more than two dangerous animals in the city at any time, the code reads. 

Owners are also supposed to post signage regarding the animal or animals. 

“The owner or occupant of premises where a wild or dangerous animal is kept shall post, at each entrance to such premises, conspicuous signs which state, "WARNING: WILD OR DANGEROUS ANIMAL. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL (the telephone number of the owner or occupant of the premises),” the code reads.

Despite what the code says about wild animals, at a press conference Thursday afternoon Trennepohl said you do not need a permit to own a monkey in Marion County.

What to do if you were bitten or had direct contact with Momo

Anyone who had direct contact with Momo is asked to contact the Marion County Public Health Department at 317-221-3148.

"There is a concern for diseases that can be transmitted to humans,” Trennepohl said.

Has Momo the monkey gone missing before?

Back in July, Momo’s apparent owner posted in a lost and found pets Facebook group that the animal escaped. His post was later updated to say that Momo had been found safe.

In this post, the apparent owner included photos of the monkey curled up while wearing a Christmas sweater and a video of Momo carrying a stuffed animal. 

Real heroes are 911 callers, police say

Carter applauded the 911 callers, who spotted Momo and alerted authorities. There was a concern for public safety and the monkey wouldn’t have been apprehended without the 911 callers, he said.

There was also a concern for Momo.

"We didn't want anyone to injure the monkey,” Carter said. "We didn't want the monkey to get hit by a car."

Reporter Katie Wiseman contributed.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis' Momo the monkey headed to the zoo after capture