Zebra Put Down by Police After Attacking Ohio Man

On Sunday evening, 9-1-1 operators acquired a name from 72-year-old Ronald Clifton, who reported he simply “acquired attacked by a zebra.” The operator was clearly shocked by the person’s declare, asking, “You bought attacked by a what?!” earlier than asking if the animal bit his arm.

“Oh hell sure, I believe he tore my arm off,” mentioned Clifton (through Fox News), who then requested for authorities to ship a helicopter.

Deputies discovered Clifton on the bottom, in ache, once they arrived. As police utilized a tourniquet to the sufferer, the zebra reportedly charged the door of one of many cruisers and acted “very hostile.” They momentarily scared it off with the siren.

On bodycam footage from the scene, the police are seen asking a farmhand if there’s “a approach so that you can preserve [the zebra] again,” including, “We’re making an attempt to not shoot him.” The person chased it off once more with a stick, nevertheless it wasn’t lengthy earlier than the animal slowly began to make its approach again towards the deputies.

Clifton’s household warned the responding officers to “preserve taking a look at” the zebra and instructed them to not flip their heads away from the animal. Per the police report, the household additionally mentioned police may shoot the animal if it acquired too shut. Based on Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey (through ABC News), the officers have been finally compelled to “put down the zebra as a result of it turned aggressive in the direction of deputies and different individuals on the scene.”

Clifton was rushed to the hospital and his household mentioned he will not lose his arm.

Based on ABC, the explanation behind the animal’s assault is unknown — although officers speculated the male zebra was territorial of feminine zebras on the farm; it additionally may have been scared by ongoing work on the property.