Arrest made after many Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo animals taken

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (FOX 35 WOFL) - The Santa Fe College Police Department has arrested one man in connection with the theft of animals from the school's Teaching Zoo. 

Sedrick Tyrezi Price, 22, was taken into custody on Tuesday.  Authorities said he is a resident of the Crossings at Santa Fe Apartment complex, where several of the missing animals were found.

Eleven animals were discovered missing there on the morning of May 24th. Police believed they were stolen.

Police say officers found three box turtles, two red-foot tortoises, a skink, and a squirrel monkey inside an apartment near the campus. A tip lead them to the animals.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo director Jonathan Miot said that the students and staff at the zoo were happy to see the animals that were recovered.

“There was a lot of excitement Monday night,” Miot said. “Our students were the first ones to learn about the recovery and were able to get the animals back in their enclosures before word was sent out to the rest of the college.”

The SFPD said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.