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Pet tiger was New Yorker's "only friend"
Reuters ^
| October 7, 2003
Posted on 10/07/2003 7:40:52 PM PDT by Shermy
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Battered and bitten and facing seven years in prison, a man who made headlines for keeping a fierce tiger in his New York apartment says he still loves the beast and misses him terribly.
Arraigned on Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court, Antoine Yates, 31, was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and possession of a wild animal, all revolving around Ming, a 400-pound, 20-month-old Siberian-Bengal tiger discovered by authorities on Saturday.
Tipped off by neighbours who complained about the stench of urine flowing from Yates' Harlem apartment, police rappelled down the side of his apartment building and hit the beast through a fifth-floor window with a tranquilliser dart.
Yates, a part-time taxi driver, was arrested on Sunday at a Philadelphia hospital where he was treated for bites from Ming, who attacked him when he tried to protect a kitten from the tiger.
"I still feel heartbroken, torn up. The pain is nothing. It is the pain in my heart that really bothers me. I really do miss him," Yates said after his court appearance.
"He was like my brother, my best friend. He was my only friend, really," Yates said.
Yates's ordeal came as magician Roy Horn of "Siegfried and Roy" fame was in critical condition after being savaged by one of the white Bengal tigers in his Las Vegas show.
Manhattan Criminal Judge Melissa Jackson released Yates on his own recognisance, ordering him back in court on December 18 to learn if he has been indicted.
Yates faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted of the top count of reckless endangerment.
Yates also kept a three-foot alligator-like caiman named Al, which authorities also found in his seven-room apartment. Ming and Al had separate bedrooms.
Ming, who ate 25 chicken thighs a day, was shipped to an animal refuge in Ohio, while Al went to Indiana.
Neighbours said Yates also has housed hyenas, monkeys and snakes in his home. Prosecutors said they were investigating what happened to Yates' other animals.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: alligator; caiman; tiger
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1
posted on
10/07/2003 7:40:53 PM PDT
by
Shermy
To: Shermy
sniffle..
2
posted on
10/07/2003 7:42:26 PM PDT
by
AntiGuv
(When the countdown hits zero, something's gonna happen..)
To: ambrose; Sabertooth; Catspaw; Dog; okie01; Utah Girl; swarthyguy; aculeus; a_Turk; ...
Pinger.
3
posted on
10/07/2003 7:42:41 PM PDT
by
Shermy
(Support Free Republic Anti-Pit Bull Threads)
To: All
Donate to Free Republic, and Save Larry The Lobster!!!
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4
posted on
10/07/2003 7:44:13 PM PDT
by
Support Free Republic
(Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
To: AntiGuv
Prosecutors said they were investigating what happened to Yates' other animals. Ming and Al are getting lawyers...
5
posted on
10/07/2003 7:44:14 PM PDT
by
Shermy
(Support Free Republic Anti-Pit Bull Threads)
To: Shermy
This guy doesnt deserve 7 years for this. Too bad he cant get a job at the zoo taking care of his Tiger.
6
posted on
10/07/2003 7:44:52 PM PDT
by
Husker24
To: Shermy
Ming, who ate 25 chicken thighs a day, was shipped to an animal refuge in Ohio...
...Prosecutors said they were investigating what happened to Yates' other animals.Ummm, hello!!
It's a crazy world when your "only friend" is a carnivorous animal.
7
posted on
10/07/2003 7:45:43 PM PDT
by
Constitution Day
(Eschew exclamatory abuse.)
To: Shermy
Sniff! I miss eating playing with my old friend.
8
posted on
10/07/2003 7:46:05 PM PDT
by
w_over_w
(In case you didn't know that Bob Graham was seeking the Presidency. . . he just quit!)
To: Shermy
Wonder what happened to the poor little kitten?
nevermind...:~(
sw
9
posted on
10/07/2003 7:46:18 PM PDT
by
spectre
(SW)
To: Shermy
Hmmmm, I wonder what happened to the other animals? I would suspect that since the guy was trying to protect the little kitten FROM THE TIGER, we have our first clue.
10
posted on
10/07/2003 7:46:42 PM PDT
by
U S Army EOD
(Feeling my age, but wanting to feel older)
To: Shermy
There is no such thing as a pet tiger.
11
posted on
10/07/2003 7:46:46 PM PDT
by
Consort
To: Shermy
Neighbours said Yates also has housed hyenas, monkeys and snakes in his home. Prosecutors said they were investigating what happened to Yates' other animals.
To: spectre
I once had a cousin who had a leppard for a pet. The leppard would kill a cat on sight but got along great with the yard dogs.
13
posted on
10/07/2003 7:49:15 PM PDT
by
U S Army EOD
(Feeling my age, but wanting to feel older)
To: Shermy
Haha.
14
posted on
10/07/2003 7:49:20 PM PDT
by
ambrose
To: Shermy
Jeepers... Thanks for the heads up!
To: Shermy
I dunno.
I think ILiveAloneWithAFreakinTiger had lots of friends here at FR.
16
posted on
10/07/2003 7:49:32 PM PDT
by
dagnabbit
(Proud Hispanic, African-American, Gay Muslim since 2003)
To: Shermy
Neighbours said Yates also has housed hyenas, monkeys and snakes in his home. Prosecutors said they were investigating what happened to Yates' other animals. 25 chicken thighs wasn't enough.
17
posted on
10/07/2003 7:49:39 PM PDT
by
FITZ
To: Shermy
See what gun-control will get ya...
18
posted on
10/07/2003 7:49:48 PM PDT
by
scab4faa
(Can't sleep.. the clowns will eat me... Can't sleep.. the clowns will eat me... Can't sleep..)
To: Husker24
I agree, and I suspect the judge will too. This is a well-meaning though misguided young man. In the neighborhood in question, many young men are inclined to murderous violence to humans and animals. This fellow is worth saving, and a job in a zoo or wildlife preserve (maybe the one Ming got sent to) would be a good idea -- lots of unskilled labor needed at those places.
To: Shermy
How does a part-time taxi driver in New York City afford:
1) A 7 room apartment, and
2) 25 chicken thighs a day?
That's 750 chicken thighs a month! Yowza.
20
posted on
10/07/2003 7:56:05 PM PDT
by
Mudcat
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