Robbery Suspect Loses Police Inside Dallas Zoo Habitat

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/KRLD) - A manhunt at the Dallas Zoo has ended. Dallas police were searching for a man they say committed a violent robbery.

As officers tried to serve an aggravated robbery probation violation warrant, two men, including wanted suspect Brynell McFarland, ran out the back door of an apartment in the 1200 block of South Ewing and scaled a large fence that led into the Dallas Zoo.

McFarland was able to reach the "Giants of the Savannah" section of the zoo. The habitat has everything from elephants and giraffes, to lions and cheetahs. An officer spotted the man from an observation tower, but by the time he reached the location McFarland had fled.

One man at the back gate of the zoo saw police go in and talked with KRLD NewsRadio 1080. "There's got to be 50 to75 police cars that are at the back gate of the zoo and they've got SWAT coming in now," he said.

A K-9 Unit was also dispatched to the zoo.

Dallas Police Sergeant Warren Mitchell couldn't confirm if the suspect had a weapon but said, ""You know anybody that's wanted for aggravated robbery should always be considered armed and dangerous."

The entire south side of the zoo was evacuated as a precautionary measure. "Right now we're evacuating part of the zoo and hopefully we'll be able to apprehend this suspect pretty quickly," said Sgt. Mitchell. but, that turned out not to be the case.

Officers searched the zoo for several hours and never found McFarland.

The other man who ran from the apartment was quickly found lying in a wooded area, was detained and released.

No one was injured during the incident and the zoo has entirely reopened.