Man who claimed to be 'Tarzan' at Santa Ana Zoo arrested again

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- A Huntington Beach man who claimed to be "Tarzan" at the Santa Ana Zoo earlier this week was arrested again - this time for theft.

John William Rodenborn, 37, was arrested on suspicion of stealing an iPhone from an art gallery in the 2900 block of Randolph Avenue in Costa Mesa on Thursday.

The gallery's surveillance footage showed Rodenborn entering a side door and taking the phone. That's when the victim contacted Costa Mesa police.

According to investigators, the victim found her phone's location using a tracking app, which showed that the phone was at Bristol Street and Santa Ana Avenue.

When officers responded to the location, they found Rodenborn in a flood control channel. When Rodenborn saw police, he climbed over a fence and went into a Newport Beach neighborhood.

Police say he hid inside a garage of a home. The resident contacted police.

Authorities said Rodenborn took off his shirt and rubbed blue paint in his hair and face in an attempt to camouflage himself.

When officers entered the garage, Rodenborn fled again - this time climbing on top of garages belonging to a nearby apartment complex.

Officers eventually cornered him in a dumpster area, where they took him into custody.

He faces a felony burglary charge and a misdemeanor charge for fleeing from police. He is being held in lieu of $220,000 bail.

Tuesday, Rodenborn was taken into custody after allegedly climbing the trees at the Santa Ana Zoo and trying to break into the monkey exhibit.

Workers say he was shirtless and covered in mud, and that he appeared to be under the influence of something. He was arrested for possessing and being under the influence of methamphetamine and trespassing.