A father is facing a child cruelty charge for allegedly bringing his 2-year-old daughter into an elephant habitat at the San Diego Zoo on Friday, according to San Diego police.
Police say an elephant became upset after seeing the man, identified by police as Jose Navarrete, and the child in its habitat.
"This afternoon, March 19, 2021, two guests, despite multiple barriers, purposely and illegally trespassed into a habitat, which is home to our Asian and African elephants. San Diego Zoo security promptly responded to the incident, but the guests had already exited the habitat.
Both the elephants and the guests are unharmed. San Diego Police Department is on site and we will follow their guidance," the zoo said in a statement.
When reports of the incident first surfaced, SDPD Sgt. Ariel Savage said the elephant appeared as if it wanted to charge at the father and toddler. But a witness described a scarier situation.
Matthew Passiglia told NBC 7 it only took about 30 seconds for the elephant to notice Navarrete.
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"A lot of people froze and didn’t know really how to take it in, then immediately everyone was pleading with him and then it became frantic and hysterical," Passiglia said.
What happened next stunned everyone.
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"It was a big roar. [The elephant] stuck its head up in the air and its tusks and he started trotting toward them," Passiglia said.
Other witnesses rushed to help Navarrete, according to Passiglia, but as he was running away he tripped and dropped his toddler. Passiglia said the elephant came within 5 feet.
"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," Passiglia said.
Navarrete managed to pick up his child and made it to safety just before the elephant reached the fence.
"The tusks actually protruded out the other end," Passiglia said.
SDPD said officers with its Zoo Detail Unit arrested Navarette, 25, after the incident. He faces a charge related to child cruelty and is being held on a $100,000 bail.
Navarrete is scheduled for arraignment on March 30.
SDPD is continuing to investigate the incident. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident at the zoo to please contact them at (619)531-2000.
