BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Five University of Cincinnati students were charged with trespassing Sunday after they allegedly entered the Cincinnati Zoo and attempted to help themselves to some free camel rides -- at 3 in the morning. The suspects were each charged with the fourth-degree misdemeanorand released from the Hamilton County Justice Center. Their stays in jail ranged from several minutes to nearly nine hours.
Those charged are: Michael Wisniewski, 18, and his roommate, Kevin Smith, 19, of the 2700 block of Scioto St., Clifton; Rueben Schatz, 18, of Solon, Ohio; Jerry Morris II, 22, of the 300 block of Probasco St., University Heights; and William Proto, 22, of the 2300 block of Chickasaw St., Clifton Heights.
Three were released on $500 bond, of which 10 percent was posted. Mr. Proto's bond was $700 stemming from an additional seat belt violation. He spent nearly nine hours in jail before being released at 12:20 p.m. Sunday.
Mr. Schatz's bond was $1,000, doubled because he did not list a home address in Hamilton County.
Zoo spokeswoman Donna Oehlersaid such late-night trespassing is rare. The zoo has 24-hour staffing, including security, and city police also routinely patrol the area. She said late-night trespassing presents significant risk to animals and those who trespass.
The paths are not well-lighted at night, and although some of the more dangerous animals such as the big cats are housed inside, many others are outside at night and might be startled by an intruder.
That might prompt an animal to act erratically, but the zoo's camels -- which are non-aggressive -- are more likely to retreat than attack.
"We're an inner-city zoo, and people do respect the rules generally," she said. "This is unfortunate."
According to arrest reports, the group scaled the zoo's fence, and Mr. Smith and Mr. Wisniewski "were going to attempt to ride camels. This was all witnessed by zoo security."
