Man breaks into Panama City zoo, assaults visitors, employees, deputies say

BAY COUNTY, Fla. – A man broke into a Panama City zoo Tuesday afternoon and assaulted employees and visitors, Bay County deputies said.

Deputies responded to ZooWorld after a 911 call about a man — Michael Brown — “acting erratically” at the zoo, reports stated.

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According to Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Brown was “screaming threats” at people around him before he assaulted two visitors and three employees.

BCSO said after Brown attacked the employees, they retreated from him and focused on keeping other visitors — including a bus full of children — away from Brown.

Deputies said Brown did not injure any animals at the zoo, nor did he attempt to enter any animal enclosures.

Brown began fighting two deputies after they engaged with him, threatening to hurt others and making “unintelligible sounds,” records indicated.

BCSO stated Brown was eventually placed in handcuffs and taken to a local medical facility for an evaluation. The department also said he will eventually be taken to the Bay County Jail.

Brown is facing charges for battery, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and trespassing.