Two men facing charges for using exotic animals and fire during an unauthorized photo shoot inside a Baltimore County parking garage have been formally indicted, according to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. The October 2023 incident drew law enforcement response after witnesses reported unusual activity and safety hazards within the multi-level structure.
Indictment Details and Criminal Charges
According to court records obtained from the Baltimore County Circuit Court, the grand jury returned multiple counts against the defendants following an investigation by local police and animal control agencies. The charges stem from events documented on October 14, 2023, inside a parking garage located in the Towson area.
Prosecutors outline several specific violations in the charging documents:
- Reckless endangerment stemming from the use of open flames in an enclosed public structure.
- Multiple counts of animal cruelty and neglect regarding the handling and transport of the exotic wildlife.
- Property-related offenses associated with unauthorized access to the commercial facility.
Nature of the Parking Garage Incident
According to investigative reports from the Baltimore County Police Department, officers responded to the garage after receiving calls about a commercial photo shoot involving live wild animals and pyrotechnics. Witnesses observed handlers using fire elements near vehicles and concrete pillars while posing with the animals.
Animal control officers subsequently seized the creatures involved to evaluate their health and ensure they were housed in accordance with state and local permitting laws. Investigators noted that neither the photographers nor the handlers possessed the necessary commercial permits to operate live wildlife within the municipal structure.
Legal Precedents and Next Steps in Baltimore County
The case now moves to the trial phase in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, where defense attorneys will have the opportunity to enter pleas and review the state’s evidence. Under Maryland law, convictions for reckless endangerment and animal abuse carry potential prison sentences and substantial fines depending on the severity of the findings.
Legal analysts following the docket point out that combining public safety hazards with wildlife violations often complicates defense strategies, as prosecutors must establish both the danger posed to human occupants and the distress caused to the animals.
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