Shirtless 'Tarzan' Arrested In Bizarre Incident Near Zoo Monkey Exhibit
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A 37-year-old man suspected of being high on drugs was arrested after allegedly trying to break into the monkey exhibit at the Santa Ana Zoo, police said Wednesday.
John Rodenborn, of Santa Ana, was arrested shortly after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning for possession of methamphetamine after he was seen swinging from trees at the zoo located at 1801 E Chestnut Avenue, according to police.
Rodenborn - who was described as a local transient - was shirtless and covered in mud when he was taken into custody, police said.
According to a 911 call made by zoo employee Kent Yamaguchi, Rodenborn was allegedly "shouting at people that he's Tarzan" as he made his way through the zoo, but wasn't acting "terribly aggressive".
"We have a gentleman who appears to be under the influence of something and is climbing in our trees and jumping into animal exhibits," said Yamaguchi.
The call was briefly interrupted as Yamaguchi - apparently speaking directly to Rodenborn - says "You're not allowed to climb trees in the zoo here."
At one point, according to Yamaguchi, Rodenborn had climbed up a tree and was on top of a 20-foot-high retaining wall "looking over where the monkeys are."
"It looks like he may be trying to jump into the water," he said.
A short time later, Yamaguchi told authorities Rodenborn had climbed down the wall and was apparently taking a break from his activities.
"He's covered with mud," he said.
The incident did not disturb the monkeys, zoo officials said.
