Published: August 21, 2008 10:19 pm      

Man charged with monkeying around inside closed zoo

GALLITZIN — GALLITZIN – An Altoona man, looking to relive his childhood visiting the Forest Zoo, was charged with breaking into the defunct establishment.

David Michael Snyder, 27, of Creekside Drive, was charged Wednesday night with burglary, criminal trespass and other charges when local police and state troopers found him inside a building of the former zoo near Gallitzin.

When asked why he was there Snyder said: “I was curious, because I haven’t been here since I was a kid.”

The Forest Zoo, now closed, once housed more than 250 animals including bears, deer and elephants, attracting about 60,000 visitors each year.

The current owner, David Lynch, told authorities he had just sat down to dinner at 8 p.m. when someone telephoned him about a suspicious car at the zoo. He said ran out and spotted a trespasser.

“I yelled at him, and he ducked down and tried to hide,” Lynch told police. “I could see his hand on the windowsill.”

Lynch called police, who nabbed Snyder at the scene.

Snyder also was charged with DUI after troopers said he eyes were bloodshot and he reeked of alcohol.

Snyder was arraigned by on-call District Judge Galen Decort of Portage and sent to the Cambria County Prison on $15,000 bond.