A judge has issued a ruling of 'mental incompetence' in the case of a Dallas man who is accused of setting animals free at the Dallas Zoo.
Court records show 24-year-old Davion Irvin faces eight charges in all, six for misdemeanor animal abuse and two for burglary, for his role in a rash of animal escapes at the Dallas Zoo in January.
It started when officials say someone cut open the cage of a clouded leopard, allowing the wild cat to get out and roam free. The animal was located later on Zoo grounds.
A few days later, someone cut open the cage of some Langur monkeys. Fortunately, the Langur monkeys were too afraid to leave their habitat and did not escape
The evidence in the investigation led police to Irvin. Police said they received a tip that Irvin was spotted at the Dallas World Aquarium after he'd been there asking questions about animals at the aquarium and a worker recognized him from the recent news coverage.
Irvin told police he loves animals and that if he's released from jail, he would steal more.
But now all those cases have been put on hold and a judge has sent Irvin to a state mental hospital after ruling that he is mentally incompetent to assist in his defense.
The case will be reviewed again, but not for several months.
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