A father was arrested on Friday for taking his 2-year-old daughter into the elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo, according to law enforcement officials.
The San Diego Police Department identified the man as 25-year-old Jose Navarrete, according to CNN. After passing multiple barriers to entry, Navarrete and his daughter made it into the elephant enclosure.
Once inside, the elephant quickly noticed that the two were there and started to charge toward them. As the dad started to run away, he tripped and dropped his daughter. The elephant hesitated, and Navarrete was able to pick the toddler up and make it to safety.
“I didn’t think it was going to end well. There was a moment when the elephant had the option, and luckily the elephant took a second guess, and there was confusion right there on the floor with them,” an eyewitness told NBC San Diego.
SDPD said their Zoo Detail Unit apprehended Navarrate at the scene. He is facing a child cruelty charge and is being held on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 30. The incident is still under investigation by the SDPD, and officials are asking witnesses to contact them.
