Photographer Arrested for Unlicensed Exotic Animal Photo Shoots

Vernon Crowfey III, 32, owner of Photogeniks, and Jayden Evans, owner of Tarzan Exoticz, were arrested in Towson, Maryland, for conducting unlicensed photo shoots with exotic animals. The pair came to authorities' attention after a June 13 shoot in a Baltimore County mall parking garage, where Crowfey photographed three women posing with snakes, a spider monkey, and a lemur, with video showing part of the garage floor lit on fire. An undercover officer later arranged a shoot involving the lemur and spider monkey on July 16 in Parkville, leading to a search warrant at Evans' apartment in Maryland. Investigators found snakes, lizards, rabbits, a tarantula, and other animals, and charging documents claim the spider monkey's spinal cord was exposed. The Maryland Zoo is caring for some animals. Crowfey and Evans face misdemeanors and a felony charge; privately owning a primate is illegal in Maryland. Crowfey claims they had permission from mall security for the fire shoot.