Baltimore County men arrested after allegedly using exotic animals in paid photo shoots

Two men were arrested in Baltimore County after allegedly obtaining exotic animals, including a lemur and a spider monkey, and using them to profit through photo shoots.

One of the photo sessions took place in the Towson Town Center parking garage.

Jayden Evans, 25, is facing animal-related charges stemming from his possession of several exotic animals and malicious burning during a photo shoot. Vernon Crowfey III, 32, is facing malicious burning charges.

The two were arrested on July 16 after an undercover police officer attempted to schedule a photo shoot.

The investigation began after police discovered that Evans posted photos and videos on his social media accounts showing him and others with various exotic animals, including snakes, a lemur and a baby spider monkey.  

According to charging documents obtained by CBS News Baltimore, Evans and Crowfey picked up the lemur and spider monkey in North Carolina after receiving them from an "unknown source who operates in Florida."

Crowfey, the owner of a photography company, "Photogeniks," was the photographer, and Evans was the animal handler during the photo shoots.

The Maryland Zoo is caring for some of the animals.

Ring of fire with snakes, lemur and spider monkey

Several women posed with animals in a ring of fire, posing with snakes, the lemur, and the spider monkey inside a parking garage at the Towson Town Center, which was captured by mall surveillance video.      

According to charging documents, police said the photographers were not permitted to light the ring of fire or take the photographs. However, Crowfey told CBS News Baltimore they did have permission.

CBS News Baltimore reached out to the Towson Town Center for comment but has not heard back.

"We spoke with the security at the mall," Crowfey said. "We explained we were going to have the fire photo shoot and we would be out before the mall closed."

Lizards, snakes, malnourished monkeys found

Police said an undercover officer paid a $500 deposit to have a photoshoot with a lemur and a spider monkey at Double Rock Park in Parkville, Maryland.

Police executed a search warrant at an apartment in Middle River, where Evans was seen leaving with a lemur in a bookbag and the spider monkey in a small mesh carrier.

Evans was detained, and investigators found snakes, a green iguana, a bearded dragon, rabbits, tortoises, dogs, cats, and a tarantula. Additionally, the spider monkey and lemur were found to be malnourished and weren't in proper living conditions.

Crowfey arrived at the home while police were conducting the search warrant and was arrested for his participation and for the burning at the Towson Town Center.

"You can't show me a baby spider monkey whose spinal cord doesn't show through their back because they are born that way," Crowfey said.

It's illegal to privately own primates in Maryland

In Maryland, privately owning a primate is illegal. The law states that "a person may not import into the state, offer for sale, trade, barter, possess, breed, or exchange a live nonhuman primate."

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), primates, including lemurs, pose a public safety risk.

DNR says that lemurs and spider monkeys can cause health concerns to humans and themselves. Bites and scratches can transmit bacteria that can cause serious infections.

Lemurs can also contract and spread tuberculosis, and intestinal parasites can sometimes be transmitted between people and the animals. The lemurs can also catch influenza, COVID-19, common cold viruses, and other respiratory pathogens, which are more harmful to the monkeys.

Officials said spider monkeys can inflict serious bites and scratches and could become aggressive when frightened, stressed, or reaching sexual maturity. They also require a specialized diet and constant social interaction, which is typically not met in private homes.

DNR says that the restrictions on spider monkeys and lemurs are because of the combination of higher injury potential, specialized care requirements, and the possibility of diseases spreading between monkeys and humans.