Columbus, Ohio —
Grand jurors in Franklin County indicted a man they say broke into multiple businesses, including a pet store, and released hamsters from his pants.
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has accepted an indictment against Matthew Pancake, which includes three charges of breaking and entering and two counts of theft. On initial charges, the 31-year-old male faced vandalism and breaking and entering charges.
Around three in the morning on July 9, officers from the Columbus Division of Police were alerted to the sound of a burglar alarm and requested to respond to a Roosters in the vicinity of Hilliard.
A break-in had occurred at the eatery, according to the police. Undercover investigators filmed a man with long hair entering the eatery while he wore pajamas with leopard pattern.
The Petland store had been broken into as well, and cops discovered multiple animals running about the parking area, approximately 100 yards away.
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During their search, officers found the broken-in condition of the Famous Footwear business on Hilliard Rome Road.
According to Sgt. Joe Albert of the Columbus Police Department, Pancake was discovered dozing off on a bench next to the Big Lots on Roberts Road at 4:47 a.m.
The body-cam film shows the police officers taking Pancake down from the bench, placing him on the ground, and then searching him. They discovered four hamsters and bedding in his leopard-printed pajamas during the hunt.
He was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries after being arrested.
Two canines, several birds, a hamster, and two or more bunnies were rescued by the police from a stray animal facility. Last week, a few ferrets, birds, and bunnies were still unaccounted for.