"I was yelling 'get the monkey off me' "Arthur Warden, letter carrier: Mail carrier doesn't monkey around

BECKLEY - His name isn't Curious George, but letter carrier ArthurWarden says Raleigh County has its own mischievous chimpanzee namedHerbie.

Warden said he didn't know the 13-year-old chimp lived along hisdelivery route, but the two met Monday when Herbie leaped through thepassenger's window while the mail truck was stopped at a mailbox.

"I've been attacked by dogs and I've seen a lot of stuff, butnothing like this," Warden said. "When I go into the office(Tuesday), I won't be surprised if there's a bunch of bananasthere."

Afraid the animal was going to bite him, Warden abandoned thetruck with Herbie right behind him. The truck had begun to rollforward, knocking the chimp down and eventually crashing into aparked car.

But Herbie wasn't finished with Warden.

"He grabbed me, and I grabbed him," Warden said. "He got hold ofme and we were standing toe to toe. His face was within a foot ofmine. I thought it was going to get real bad.

"I was yelling, 'Get the monkey off of me.' He was stronger thanme, that's all I can tell you," Warden said.

But Herbie's owner, Joyce Wriston, said the chimp just wanted toplay. He lives with her and her husband, Fred, and was playing withhis favorite tools when he punched a hole in his cage with a hammer.

"He loves everybody. He thinks everybody is his friend," shesaid. "Not many people see a chimp sitting in a vehicle. He wantsto socialize with everyone."

Even though Herbie didn't hurt Warden, the 25-year veteran lettercarrier said he was scared of the 4-foot-6-inch chimp.

"He threw his hands up in the air and had his teeth showing,"Warden said. "I think I must have spent a second looking to see ifwhat I was seeing was really was I was seeing."

Wriston was able to get Herbie away from Warden and calm the chimpdown by taking him to get a Coke and ice cream.

But Herbie didn't get away without a police record. RaleighCounty Deputy T.E. Baker listed the chimp as a suspect on a policereport, and Wriston said she was cited for not keeping Herbie on aleash.

Baker did not immediately return a phone call Monday.

The front of the postal truck was damaged after crashing into avehicle belonging to Wriston's daughter, Lisa Blevins.

"He was raised like a kid. When he was little, him and my kidstook baths together and played together," Blevins said.

"(Herbie) has no idea he's a monkey. He scared Arthur but all hewanted to do was drive or say hello."