Man says he climbed tree to escape pack of pumas, is arrested for alleged drunkenness
A drunk man who said he was being chased Tuesday morning by a pack of pumas climbed a tree in South Pasadena to escape them and got stuck, police said.
The pumas, it turns out, were imaginary, police said.
South Pasadena officers received a call shortly after 3:30 a.m. of a man being stuck in a tree in the 200 block of St. Albans Avenue.
The 41-year-old man, whose name was unavailable, was found about 20 feet up in the tree, said Sgt. Brian Solinsky. As firefighters set up a ladder to rescue him, he climbed down on his own.
The man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public, booked into jail and released several hours later with a citation to appear in court at a later date, Solinsky said. Police said the man had no prior criminal record.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
I've seen plenty of cougars in Pasadena, but I can't recall ever seeing a puma.
Posted by: Jess | February 08, 2011 at 01:22 PM
PUMAS...that is great. A+ in creativeness !
Posted by: D.M | February 08, 2011 at 01:38 PM
I thought pumas lost out to Nike...
Posted by: S L | February 08, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Cougars in Pasadena but Pumas apparently live in SOUTH Pasadena-a different city.
Posted by: boochie | February 08, 2011 at 02:29 PM
It's obvious that this man needed help, not jail. Our modern society has become too anesthetized and reliant on brute force instead of common sense to realize this.
Posted by: Hakatau | February 08, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Pumas? He must have got that idea from the shoes he was wearing.
Posted by: James | February 08, 2011 at 03:17 PM
maybe a bunch of people wearing Puma's???
Posted by: Rojo | February 08, 2011 at 03:26 PM
maybe a bunch of people wearing Puma's???
Posted by: Rojo | February 08, 2011 at 03:26 PM
A pack of pumas. Is that anything like a pack of liars, or a pack-a-derm?
Posted by: Astonished | February 08, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Puma is another name for Mountain Lion. But, last I heard, they were not exactly pack animals ;)
Posted by: happyHBmom | February 08, 2011 at 03:44 PM
Second best headline ever
Posted by: Seejay | February 08, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Pumas? Not pink elephants? Oh, he's only 41, he wouldn't know about the pink elephants yet. Just wait.
Posted by: My view means nothing | February 08, 2011 at 04:11 PM
Jess: Pumas and cougars are two different names for one and the same thing; they are also called mountain lions.
The giveaway to the police that the drunk was lying would be the fact that cougars/pumas/mountain lions are loners, and never travel in packs.
Posted by: Marshall | February 08, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Run Forest Run!!
Posted by: Plum Genius | February 08, 2011 at 04:43 PM
"Very...SMALL pumas, officer. Surprisingly...POLITE. Walking on their HIND legs. And WHO KNEW pumas attend SECOND GRADE at a CATHOLIC school?
"THANK GOD you saved me, so now I can tell my WIFE."
Posted by: masterofmeander | February 08, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Geez, at least sound credible and say it was a pack of coyotes. Or werewolves.
Posted by: Brainiac | February 08, 2011 at 05:11 PM
MAN I want some of what he's drinking, must be good stuff!!!
Posted by: scoot | February 08, 2011 at 05:14 PM
... and everyone knows, cats have an aversion to climbing trees?
Posted by: CJ | February 08, 2011 at 05:17 PM
they also climb trees pretty well, so that wouldn't have worked anyway.
Posted by: jonah | February 08, 2011 at 05:25 PM
"The giveaway to the police that the drunk was lying would be the fact that cougars/pumas/mountain lions are loners..."
Really? You don't suppose the giveaway might have been that he told police his name was Michelle Obama and she was just trying to avoid being struck by Lindsay Lohan's car?
Posted by: Lou Bricano | February 08, 2011 at 06:02 PM
I must remember this excuse the next time I'm late for work.
Posted by: Buck | February 08, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Was he an illegal ? Why does the press always cover up facts.
Posted by: taxpayer | February 08, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Sounds like meth psychosis to me not just booze. As for me, if it was a pack of cougars and not pumas, I wouldnt run from them, I'd call for a limo.
Posted by: Private_Joker | February 08, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Cougars are pumas. They do not hunt in packs.
Of course with Pumas conjured up by alcohol almost anything can happen. I am suprised they were't driving front end loaders in his alcohol induced state.
Moral of the story, use your intelligence about drinking.
Posted by: Angela Birch | February 09, 2011 at 09:01 AM
Come on, people. Jess was CLEARLY referencing cougar as an older woman who picks up young men. Get your act together!
Posted by: Johnny | February 09, 2011 at 12:23 PM