Animals Harassed at Zoo Following Break-in

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BAY COUNTY, FL – Zoo World is asking for the public’s help in the search for a man who broke into their property Monday night. The zoo’s surveillance cameras caught him breaking through the perimeter fence. “He broke in right behind the sign so that nobody passing by could see what he was doing. And he spent all of his time specifically in the yard chasing down our Billy goats. So we know that he had direct intent to target these animals,” Zoo World Chief Operating Officer Erika Newell said.

Zoo World has over 40 adult and young goats that they keep in two different pens. Managers say he entered one of the pens, then climbed through a deer pen to get to the second goat enclosure. They say he was chasing and harassing the goats. “This individual could have taken a lot of harm, and it could have ended very, very tragically,” Newell said.

Zoo World staff were alerted immediately. Bay County Sheriff’s Deputies responded quickly, but the suspect was already gone. Staff accounted for all of their animals and secured the zoo. They believe this was a targeted attack. Employees say the break-in raised concerns for their animals’ safety.

UPDATE: An arrest has been made for Roland Bohley following animal harassment and burglary at Zoo World. He is in custody at Manatee County Jail.

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