Home / Crime and Justice / Flaming Photoshoot with Exotic Animals Sparks Charges
Flaming Photoshoot with Exotic Animals Sparks Charges
5 Aug
Summary
- Men used snakes, lemur, and spider monkey in garage photoshoot.
- Shoot involved models, a ring of fire, and occurred under mall.
- Suspects face charges including animal cruelty and arson.
Two individuals from Baltimore, Maryland, were arrested on July 16, 2026, for allegedly conducting an illegal photoshoot involving exotic animals. Vernon Crowfey III, 32, and Jayden Evans, 25, are accused of using snakes, a lemur, and a spider monkey with models in a garage beneath the Towson Town Center.
Evans, owner of Tarzan Exoticz, and Crowfey, owner of Photogeniks, reportedly obtained the animals from North Carolina without the required permits. Charging documents indicate the animals, including primates, were not kept in proper living conditions and showed signs of neglect.
The pair face 23 misdemeanor and felony charges, including animal cruelty and arson. Crowfey claims mall security granted permission for the photoshoot, including the use of fire, provided they left before closing.
The lemur and spider monkey have been transferred to the Maryland Zoo. The incident highlights concerns about the exotic wildlife trade, coinciding with the release of a documentary on the subject.
