By: Richard L. Smith
Newark Police spent part of Thursday morning investigating reports of wild monkeys on the loose at Georgia King Village, only to determine that the incident was a hoax fueled by fake social media content.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, officers responded to the scene at approximately 10:36 a.m. on October 23, after receiving calls about monkeys roaming the area.
Despite a thorough search, no animals were found.
Newark Animal Control, which had responded to a similar report the previous day, also confirmed there was no evidence of loose or caged monkeys.
Investigators now believe the alarming claims originated from AI-generated photos and videos circulating online.
Officials urged residents to be cautious about misleading digital content and to verify information before sharing it.
The incident remains under investigation as authorities continue to track the source of the hoax.