Service monkey bites Chesapeake man again

CHESAPEAKE

A service monkey named Noah who attacked his 60-year-old owner earlier this month attacked the man a second time late Monday, police said.

On March 17, Joseph Hamric Sr. said he stepped on his capuchin monkey’s tail and it attacked him. Suffering from several bites, he put the monkey in its cage and went to a neighbor’s house to call for help. He was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

About 10 p.m. Monday, Chesapeake police, animal control and medics were called to the same address in the 800 block of Washington Drive. Hamric had been bitten again and was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment of bites to his leg.

Noah was contained in his cage in the home and animal control will follow up on the incident this morning, said Dorienne Boykin, Chesapeake police spokeswoman.

Hamric faced misdemeanor exotic-pet permit violations over Noah in 2006. The charges were dismissed, but he had to work out the matter with the city. He now has the permit.

Hamric is a Vietnam War veteran who lost his right eye, a finger and a toe when his personnel carrier was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. He told The Pilot in 2006 that he had suffered from anxiety ever since. Noah helped him manage it and could alert him 10 or 15 minutes before an anxiety attack would strike, he said.

Hamric and his monkey liked to watch television together, he said.

– Pilot writer Kristin Davis contributed to this report.