Police Detained a Man Who Allegedly Evaded Police with a Tiger, the Animal Is Still at Large

This week, the police wanted a Houston man after he allegedly fled from the police with a live tiger. The police recently revealed that he was caught, but the tiger was still missing.

Houston police accused Victor Hugo Cuevas, 26, of getting away from them with what was believed to be his pet tiger over the weekend. Late on Sunday, a neighbor called the police after seeing the animal roaming around.

However, when the police arrived, Cuevas put the feline in his Jeep Cherokee and drove off. The Houston police pursued him briefly but the suspect, who was on bond for a separate murder charge, managed to getaway.

A video taken by residents on the day shows the confrontation between an off-duty police officer and the tiger. John Ramos, a resident, was the one who alerted the community to keep them safe from the animal, saying:

"It was very scary because this is a very family-oriented community and you see lots of kids and babies strolling, people taking their pets... walking them.”

The police were finally able to capture Cuevas, and he was taken to custody as per a Twitter update on their page. Police have since charged the suspect with evading arrest, but the tiger seems to still be on the loose.

However, Cuevas’ lawyer, Michael Elliott, has revealed that the suspect isn’t the actual owner of the roaming animal. Elliott said his client only helped to get the animal back to safety and shouldn’t be charged.

The attorney also claimed he and his client had an agreement with the Houston Police Department. Cuevas was supposed to surrender himself to the police at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, but that didn’t go according to plan.

Michael Elliott also said his client didn’t own the white Jeep Cherokee SUV mentioned in the case.

Instead, the Houston Police arrested him 15 minutes before the arrangement was fulfilled. Police asked those with information on the tiger’s whereabouts to contact Major Offenders at 713-308-3100.

During a news conference before Cuevas was found, Houston Police Department Commander Ron Borza gave an update. Borza said the police just wanted to get the suspect and the tiger to a safe place, stating:

“We have plenty of places we can take that tiger and keep it safe, and give it a home for the rest of its life.”

Cuevas also owns two monkeys, and he’s currently out on a $250,000 bond for his 2020 murder charge. During a news conference, Elliott claimed that there was “no evidence” to prove Cuevas had driven off with the tiger.

He also said his client didn’t own the white Jeep Cherokee SUV mentioned in the case. Elliott said he didn’t know who had driven away with the tiger because Cuevas was arrested at his parents’ house.