CONCORD, N.C. — Saturday was a frightening day for some people in Concord who saw a huge black bear during their morning jog and even eating their garbage.
West Childress was working in the yard Saturday afternoon when he saw the 300-pound bear.
"I didn't believe it at the time. I walked to the backyard and sure enough it was there walking up the creek line right there," said Childress.
Concord police spent nearly five hours following the bear all over town and trying to keep it out of public places. The first 911 call came in at 8:00 a.m.
"We got a call from a citizen who spotted the bear near [if gte mso 9]> Les Myers Park on our green way," said Sgt. David Smith.
Police closed down several public parks until the bear wandered away. It crossed over busy Highway 49 in Concord.
Police took video of it wandering through neighborhoods.
"We got on our loud speakers and started telling people we've got a bear everybody needs to go inside," Smith said.
Police also made a reverse 911 call to about 11,000 people to warn them to stay away from the animal.
The last sighting was in the afternoon. A neighbor said he saw the bear wandering into the woods near Rocky River Elementary School. Nobody was injured.
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