Troopers catch lemur on the side of Interstate 4

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol say they had to catch a lemur on the side of Interstate 4, after it escaped from a man's trailer during a traffic stop.

Florida Highway Patrol says the investigation began Saturday, after several 911 calls came in from the 417 about a reckless driver.

"It was a big pick up and then a huge horse trailer was swinging and hitting me and hitting me," said one caller."I don't know what was going on but he was driving crazy," another driver told dispatch.

Troopers say 27-year-old Shane Taylor hit three cars and kept going. They say the two right tires were missing from his trailer so the rims were hitting the road and sparks were flying. He was finally pulled over on I-4 in Seminole County.

In video provided by FHP, you can see that as the trooper speaks with the driver toward the front of the pick up, the lemur jumps out of the trailer.

Another video shows more law enforcement officers on scene as they try and wrangle the animal and keep it from going into traffic.

An arrest report says, "With the help of several law enforcement officers we were able to safely capture and secure the ring-tailed lemur while we awaited the arrival of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Seminole County Animal Services."

It's unclear why Taylor had the animals, but troopers say he was driving drunk. He was booked into jail on DUI and hit and run charges.

FWC and animal services took possession of the animals. Troopers say none of them were properly secured in the trailer.