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DENVER -- Police in Grand Junction are looking for a man who pepper-sprayed a woman, grabbed her pet monkey and ran.

A Missouri woman traveled to Grand Junction to meet early Monday morning with a potential buyer for the black cap Capuchin monkey, the Daily Sentinel reported.

However, when they met in the parking lot of a La Quinta Inn, the man sprayed her and fled with the pet carrier containing the primate.

Private ownership of a monkey is permitted in Missouri. However, it is illegal to own or import monkeys into the state of Colorado.

The suspect was described to police as a Middle Eastern male in his late 30s, standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a thin build and a short beard.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call police at 970-242-6707.