Police in Florida weren’t monkeying around when they arrested a car theft suspect on Friday.

Officers responded to reports of a stolen vehicle driving erratically on a busy Pasco County road and began a pursuit.

Cody Hession, the 23-year-old behind the wheel, drove the allegedly stolen car into a ditch.

When police approached the vehicle to arrest the suspect, they found he was not alone. A small Capuchin monkey was clinging to Mr Hession's shirt.

The entire episode was caught on one of the deputy’s body cameras.

Mr Hession is shown handcuffed in the back of the police car with the Capuchin, named Monk, clinging to his shirt.

The officers inform him he doesn’t have a permit to own the monkey and they will be taking it to the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.

Monk then wraps himself around Mr Hession’s neck resting his head on his shoulder.

Mr Hession alleged he got Monk from an accredited breeder in South Carolina, where a permit is not required.

He had owned Monk for three years and only recently moved back to Florida.

The well-behaved primate stays put as officers take off Mr Hession’s cuffs so he can sign paperwork and say his goodbyes.

Mr Hession hugs his little mate and scratches his neck to comfort him before being taken into custody.