Police Taser Camel With Behavior Problem

January 2, 2011
fox9.com

Mississippi police were continuing to monitor a camel that has a history of attacking people and damaging property Saturday after a bout of belligerent behavior forced a police officer to use a Taser to subdue it, the Sea Coast Echo reported.

The camel, which lives on a farm for domesticated animals in Kiln, Miss. was spotted by a woman driving by who noticed it was standing outside of its fence on Dec 4.

When she pulled into the farm’s driveway to alert its owners, she said the animal began attacking her car. Terrified, she called police.

Deputy Ed Merwin told the Echo he tried to chase the single-humped beast away from the car, but was unsuccessful.

"As I approached the animal in an attempt to run it away from attacking the female's car, the animal turned and started to come towards me," the paper quoted Merwin as saying.

"I tried to chase the animal away so the female could get her car to safety outside the gate,” he continued. “The animal was not complying with my commands. At this time, the animal was Tased once. It fled to the other side of the property."

The camel’s owner, Donna Berdine, offered to pay for the scratches the camel left on the car, the report said.

Following that incident, police received an additional complaint after the camel knocked a man down on Christmas Day, sending him to the hospital.

Hancock County Sheriff Department Major Bobby Underwood said the situation is unprecedented in the small town.

"In my 42 years in law enforcement, I've never had to deal with a camel problem," the paper quoted Underwood as saying. "I've been told the camel is really gentle. I don't know what got him fired up. We are going to continue to monitor the situation."