POWELL, Ohio — A man was arrested after not following an officer's direction at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, which led to panic inside the zoo on Friday, according to the zoo.
According to the zoo spokesperson, there was a traffic crash on state Route 750 in front of the zoo. The Shawnee Hills Police Department responded to the scene to handle the incident and direct traffic.
The spokesperson said a man driving a Jeep did not follow an officer’s direction and quickly drove into the zoo’s parking lot and the officer followed.
The man reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and ran which led to a pursuit involving the officer with additional assistance.
When the man did not stop, an officer drew their weapon and another officer deployed their taser on the man. According to the sheriff’s office, it was a deputy who used their taser.
At some point, rumors of an active shooter were spread, which sent people running to hide but both the Zoo spokesperson and the sheriff's office said there was never an active shooter.
The sheriff's office said the man, from Pataskala, was arrested on a charge of failure to comply and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The sheriff's office also confirmed that the man was not armed.
There was no gunfire and the driver and officers did not enter the zoo, according to the spokesperson.