Chimp attacks woman, police cruiser

STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A 200-pound pet chimpanzee attacked a Connecticut woman, leaving her with life-threatening injuries, officials said.

Charla Nash, 55, of Stamford, Conn., was attacked by a chimp named Travis while she was at the home of her friend, Sandra Herold, police told CNN Tuesday.

Stamford Police Capt. Rich Conklin told the broadcaster Travis jumped on Nash without provocation and began biting and mauling her, inflicting serious injuries to her face, neck and hands. Herold told police she had called Nash to help get the chimp back into the house after it had used a key to escape.

After police arrived, Travis ripped off the side mirror of a police cruiser and tried to enter the vehicle. Officers shot the chimpanzee several times before it re-entered the house. It was found dead inside, CNN said.

Conklin said the chimp had also escaped in 2003 and "wreaked havoc" on the streets of Stamford for several hours.