Roadtripping Tennessean Cited In Denver For Petting Tiger

DENVER, CO — A Tennessee man on a cross-country road trip left Denver with an unwanted souvenir but at least he left with his hands intact.

Matthew Swearingen, 34, was visiting the Mile High City in March and while at the zoo, decided he'd take a little hop into the tiger enclosure and pet one of the big cats. Denver Police were called and Swearingen was ticketed for criminal trespass. He told officers he is from New York and lives in Washington, but he produced a Tennessee ID.

Swearingen is chronicling a cross-country trip on his Facebook page. He indeed mentions petting the tiger (though not the ticket), but seems rather more irked at Denver's on-going gentrification.

Image via Denver Zoo

Additional reporting by Colin Miner, Patch staff