Murder Suspect On the Run With Tiger Now in Custody: Houston Police

The Houston Police Department said that a tiger was seen roaming around a Houston neighborhood on Sunday.

Neighbors and passersby had also seen the tiger and they were terrified. The animal was reported to be wearing a collar and walking outside of a home.

An off-duty officer encountered the tiger. The encounter was recorded on video by a neighbor. The sheriff's deputy was seen pointing a gun at the tiger as the animal slowly walks toward him, NBC News reported.

The tiger's owner then went out and said not to shoot the animal. He then took the animal inside the home. One neighbor said that the owner came up to the tiger and leaned down to kiss the tiger. The tiger owner then took the animal by the collar, according to a KPRC 2 News report.

The man loaded the tiger into his truck and drove away when police got to the scene. Victor Senties, a spokesperson for the Houston Police Department, earlier said that police are still searching for the exotic animal and the owner after they fled the scene.

Houston Police Commander Ron Borza said that his concern is finding the tiger to ensure that the tiger will not be harmed.

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Tigers in Houston

Houston prohibits the private ownership of a tiger. However, they are allowed in the surrounding Harris County on conditions that they are properly registered.

It should also include $100,000 in animal insurance and keeping the tiger secured at least 1,000 feet away from another home, school, or child care facility.

The state of Texas allows the private ownership of tigers and other wild animals as long as it is registered with their sheriff and file paperwork with the state.

Tiger's Owner Found

Meanwhile, Borza announced that the police had identified Victor Hugo Cuevas, 26, as the tiger's owner. Cuevas had a prior record in July 2020 and was charged with murder from a 2017 fatal shooting outside a sushi restaurant. He is currently free on $250,000 bail, according to an ABC News Go report.

Police said Victor Hugo Cuevas was also now charged with felony evading police. Borza added that Cuevas also has two monkeys. However, he said that they are legal to possess in Houston if they are under 30 pounds.

Reports said that Cuevas and his girlfriend live a quiet, fairly secluded life. Cuevas' lawyer noted that the suspect is up to date on all court appearances related to the murder charge. However, the lawyer admitted that Victor Hugo Cuevas was not aware of the tiger situation until they informed him.

In February 2019, police had also encountered a 350-pound Bengal tiger that they found caged inside an empty Houston home garage. The owner was Brittany Garza, who was arrested in May 2019.

She was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for failing to provide water, food, care, and shelter for the tiger. The tiger that was seized in 2019 was sent to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, an animal sanctuary in Texas.

Garza earlier said that she felt like she lost her child. Garza told in an interview that she raised the tiger from a cub and named him "Rajah."

Last month, U.S. Senate lawmakers were urging the passage of a measure to ban the private ownership of big cats, such as lions and tigers.

This was in light of the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King," according to a BBC News report. The Animal Welfare Institute said that the series had helped highlight the situation of captive wild cats.

The "Tiger King" documentary series tells of the colorful life of Joe Exotic as the zoo owner in Oklahoma. Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, is now serving a 22-year-sentence for his involvement in animal abuse and a contract killing plot.

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