Fleeing the police is no easy task. Police are equipped with choppers, drones, and plenty of backup. To successfully make a clean break, a little cunning is needed. A man from Fresno, California, tried to make an ape escape by high-tailing it into a zoo.
Shawn Vaughn Goodwin was already leading the California Highway Patrol on a chase around the area close to Fresno Chaffee Zoo at about 3.45 am. The police requested backup to assist in the chase for the stolen vehicle. The pursuit heated up, and the pressure became too much for the car thief.
As they approached Belmont and Delno avenues, Goodwin decided it was time to ditch the car and instead attempt to escape on foot. Abandoning the stolen car, he jumped a fence and made his way into Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
It was the early hours of the morning when Goodwin entered the zoo, and thankfully nobody was visiting at the time. Police moved in to clear the area and began the hunt.
Monkeying Around
The search continued until around 5.30 am, with the help of a CHP and a FCSO drone unit. Eventually, one of the officers reportedly sighted Goodwin, and the pursuit continued on foot. He high-tailed it and disappeared deeper into Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
The report states that he then climbed on top of buildings and started jumping from roof to roof to escape the police. Police were forced to close the aviary enclosure and try to keep up as he scaled the buildings, flitting from one to another, like the birds he was dancing above.
They gave chase and were able to finally track down the car thief and take him into custody. It’s unclear whether or not he climbed into any of the enclosures, or if he kept a safe and sensible distance. Desperation can drive people to wild ideas.
Quite the Haul
Goodwin had good reason to run from the police. It wasn’t just a car he had allegedly stolen that day. As reported by ABC30, he was also found to be in possession of stolen goods worth more than $10,000.
However, after his rooftop zoo escapade, he finally gave up and surrendered to the police. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Thankfully, the zoo was empty at the time due to the hour, and most of the non-nocturnal animals were likely asleep. Furthermore, Goodwin didn’t make the mistake of trying to hide in one of the enclosures. It would have been a massacre if he had tried to climb in with the penguins. They’re notoriously homicidal and strict about their beliefs surrounding theft.