It sounds like something from Max’s Chimp Crazy documentary, but it really happened in Mobile, Alabama.
On Jan. 10, a woman’s pet monkey jumped out of the car while in the Starbucks drive-thru line and attacked a barista.
“I was working in the drive-through when the lady came through with [two] monkeys in her car,” the unnamed employee told the South Alabama newspaper Lagniappe. “I had never interacted with her before and had her drink ready. They pulled up to the window and as soon as she rolled down her window, one monkey just jumped out and up to my hand and started [gnawing] on my hand.”
“It bit my ear,” she continues. “I don’t remember this, but one of my coworkers took it off my head and threw it out the window.”
Police were called, but by the time they arrived, the woman and the monkeys had fled. The monkey’s owner did eventually come back to check on the employee, who required stitches and vaccinations.
Officers say the monkey’s owner could still face charges, though so far she’s just gotten two $25 fines from animal services.
As of now, the monkey business is over at the Starbucks, since the primates are now banned from the drive-thru. The company says the customer’s still welcome to come inside, as long as she’s monkey-free.
Another Starbucks employee reported seeing the woman at the drive-thru before with multiple monkeys, complete with costumes, diapers and leashes.