On Thursday, May 30 at approximately 10:48 p.m. officers of the Morgantown Police Department received a call about a large snake that escaped from a truck. A male subject was transporting what is believed to be a 15-foot-long 4 inch in diameter python. During transport, the snake escaped its enclosure and was inside the vehicle. The owner then exited the vehicle and the snake escaped into the woods and was last seen on a hillside near Listravia Avenue.
Following an alert to the community, numerous officers and volunteers searched the area for the escaped snake. A drone aircraft operated by the Monongalia County Emergency Management Office was also used to try and locate the snake. The snake was not located and the official search for the snake was called off.
To date the snake has not been located and is believed to still be at large. On June 26, the owner of the snake, Shane STEVENS, 19 years of age of Morgantown was arrested and charged with allowing an animal to run at large. STEVENS was booked and released on a $100.00 bond.
Should anyone encounter the snake they are asked to call 911 immediately.