Man charged after taking 2-year-old daughter into zoo’s elephant enclosure: police

San Diego police say a man was arrested and charged with child cruelty after bringing his two-year-old daughter into an elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo.

In a statement to The Hill, a police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of 25-year-old Jose Navarrete, who police said was charged with “child cruelty with the possibility of injury or death.” The investigation into the incident is being handled by the department’s child abuse unit, according to the spokesperson.

“Despite multiple barriers, Navarrete and his daughter made it into the enclosure. An elephant noticed their presence and began to trot towards Navarrete and his daughter. Navarrete dropped his daughter but later picked her up as they attempted to exit the enclosure,” read the police department’s description of the incident.

Neither Navarrete, his daughter nor the elephant were injured during the incident, according to police.

He remains jailed on $100,000 bail, according to the department, and awaits arraignment next week.