Stuffed tiger on vehicle spurs uproar, jokes in Camas

Real-looking toy generates 911 call, traffic stop

By Patty Hastings, Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith

Published: May 19, 2015, 5:00pm

Photo courtesy of Connor Zuvich Somebody called 911 believing this toy tiger was the real thing. Camas police and the teenagers in the SUV got a good laugh out of it.

A stuffed toy tiger tied to the top of a vehicle generated a stir and a 911 call Monday afternoon in Camas.

Connor Zuvich of Vancouver was hanging out by Lacamas Lake with some friends when a driver came by and dumped some trash bags and a giant stuffed tiger. Zuvich picked up the tiger and tied it to the top of his sport-utility vehicle.

“The thing looked really realistic,” Zuvich said. “We were just cruising around Lacamas Lake with it.”

Around 4:15 p.m., Camas police were sent to an “animal problem” on Leadbetter Road, where Officer Henry Scott pulled over Zuvich. The 19-year-old thought perhaps he was being pulled over because he wasn’t allowed to have something tied to the top of his SUV.

It turns out someone had called 911 believing the stuffed animal was a live Bengal tiger. After cracking several jokes and taking pictures, Zuvich and Scott parted ways.

“It’s actually still on top of my car,” Zuvich said.

The Mountain View High School graduate said other drivers have been honking and giving him a thumbs-up at stoplights.

If it had been a real Bengal tiger, Zuvich would have had some explaining to do. Keeping large cats such as lions and tigers as pets isn’t allowed in Washington.

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