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USA Today
16-05-2025
- USA Today
Spider monkey, snakes, drugs: Traffic stop, search of man's home leads to bizarre bust
Spider monkey, snakes, drugs: Traffic stop, search of man's home leads to bizarre bust A traffic stop in California's North Bay area led authorities to search a man's home and find a spider monkey, rattlesnakes, and over $25,000 worth of methamphetamine. Deputies in Vallejo, about 34 miles southwest of Sacramento, first made contact with a man named Clifford Vincenty on May 6, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Deputies stopped the 50-year-old that day, and when they searched his vehicle, they found half a pound of methamphetamine, the sheriff's office said. Vincenty was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. The next day, Solano County Vice Detectives and the Solano County Sheriff's Enforcement Team secured a search warrant at the man's home. They found another pound of methamphetamine, $26,000 worth of meth, more than $2,000 cash, a live spider monkey, and two live rattlesnakes. Vincenty is facing additional charges, including possession of a controlled substance for sale and potential violations related to the possession of exotic animals, the sheriff's office said. Animal Control took the animals and evaluated them, the sheriff's office said. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife helped place the spider monkey at the Oakland Zoo. The Solano County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for information on the whereabouts of the rattlesnakes. It was not immediately clear if Vincenty had legal representation as of May 16. How is the spider monkey doing now? The spider monkey, now named Violeta, was taken to the Oakland Zoo's veterinary hospital. The organization said she underwent a physical exam and is around 18 months old. So far, she has undergone UV light treatments and calcium supplementation, the zoo said. She will also undergo a CT scan, a more thorough physical exam, and bloodwork to see how her organs are functioning and rule out infectious diseases. 'Veterinary Hospital staff are taking measures to ensure Violeta's overall wellbeing and have reported that she is doing well in her temporary home where keepers have set up enrichment, along with blankets and toys to keep her comfortable and stimulated,' the Oakland Zoo said about her. She has been eating lots of fruits and vegetables. The Oakland Zoo said Violeta is also drinking formula to minimize the chances of bone fractures. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN – spider monkeys are endangered, and two species within the group are classified as critically endangered and nearing extinction, the zoo said. More news: Man sentenced in California for trafficking spider monkeys: 'Disrupted fragile ecosystems' Act reintroduced to protect primates, and more on Violeta While it is illegal to privately own primates in California, there is 'an underground market' for it, the zoo said. There are also no federal laws regulating primate ownership, and state laws include anything from total bans to species-specific permits. The Captive Primate Safety Act was introduced to congress as early as 2005, according to GovTrack. The act was recently reintroduced on May 5, said Oakland Zoo Chief Executive Officer Nik Dehejia. Calling the act 'a critical step toward ending this exploitation,' Dehejia said the act would ban private ownership of primates. Violeta is being treated at the Oakland Zoo's veterinary hospital, so guests cannot see her yet, the zoo said. The zoo offers hospital tours, but guests and tourists cannot see her yet. Once she has recovered, the Oakland Zoo will work with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and another organization to find her a permanent home at an accredited zoo or sanctuary. There, she'll be able to grow up 'as normally as possible in a troop of other spider monkeys,' the zoo said. Authorities said the investigation into the drug bust is active. They ask that anyone with information contact the Solano County Sheriff's Office at (707) 784-7050. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust
A baby spider monkey and two rattlesnakes were discovered at the home of a suspect who was busted for methamphetamine during a traffic stop in California, police said. The incident began on May 6 when Solano County Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on 50-year-old Clifford Vincenty in Vallejo, California, and discovered half a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle, police said. MORE: Woman arrested after raccoon named Chewy found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop Vincenty, who is also a Vallejo resident, was taken into custody without incident and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. However, the following day, Solano County Vice Detectives and the Solano County Sheriff's Enforcement Team served a search warrant at Vincenty's residence in Vallejo which is when they discovered more evidence in the case against Vincenty. MORE: Over a ton of cocaine worth nearly half a billion dollars seized off Australian coast 'The Solano County Sheriff's Office has made a significant drug-related arrest following a traffic stop and subsequent search warrant that uncovered a large quantity of methamphetamine worth approximately $26,000 street value, and the discovery of additional contraband, cash, and exotic animals,' police said. 'The search yielded an additional pound of methamphetamine, more than $2,000 cash, a live spider monkey, and two live rattlesnakes.' Animal Control safely removed the animals, who were evaluated for proper care, and the spider monkey was later placed in the Oakland Zoo with the help of California Fish and Wildlife, officials said. MORE: 3 climbers dead after falling off mountain while rappelling MORE: Parents arrested after their 1-year-old tests positive for fentanyl and THC The primate, who was named Violeta by Oakland Zoo staff, was reported to be in decent health and is thought to be around 18-months-old, zoo officials said. 'Veterinary Hospital staff are taking measures to ensure Violeta's overall wellbeing and have reported that she is doing well in her temporary home where keepers have set up enrichment, along with blankets and toys to keep her comfortable and stimulated,' officials said. 'They are providing her with a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, and she is drinking formula that will help to minimize the likelihood of pathologic bony fractures.' MORE: Sheila the runaway kangaroo causes car crash, shuts down Alabama highway Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest illegal trades in the world, second only to drug and human trafficking, according to the Oakland Zoo, who says the trade is often fueled by the demand for these animals as pets or for profit-driven businesses, such as photo opportunities and interactive experiences. 'Wildlife trafficking is a growing conservation crisis, driving countless species, like spider monkeys and other nonhuman primates, toward extinction. These animals are often exploited through the exotic pet trade, kept in unsafe, inhumane conditions that threaten both their welfare and public safety. The Captive Primate Safety Act, recently introduced in Congress is a critical step toward ending this exploitation by banning the private ownership of primates and reinforcing our national commitment to responsible wildlife protection,' says Nik Dehejia, CEO at Oakland Zoo. MORE: Funeral director trashed over 6,500 bodies of pets, used fake ashes to defraud customers out of $650,000: Officials Meanwhile, Vincenty now faces additional charges, including possession of a controlled substance for sale and potential violations related to the possession of exotic animals. 'This operation demonstrates our commitment to disrupting illegal drug activity in Solano County,' said Undersheriff Brad DeWall. The investigation into the case is currently ongoing. Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust originally appeared on
