Armed truck driver illegally dumped tires, Florida cops say. Then alligator appeared
.jpg "A case of illegal dumping spiraled into a variety of charges for a Florida motorist, when he paused to shoot at a nearby alligator, according to investigators. The alligator (not the one pictured) survived, officials said.")
A case of illegal dumping spiraled into a series of unrelated charges when a Florida motorist paused to start shooting at an alligator, according to investigators.
Turns out, wildlife officers were watching and they witnessed one incriminating act after another, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.
The arrest happened in the Boggy Creek area west of Orlando International Airport, commission officials said.
“Officers (were) patrolling private property, where they previously discovered thousands of tires dumped. ... (They) witnessed a man enter the property and begin shooting at an alligator from the window of his truck before throwing more tires from his vehicle,” FWC officials said in a May 29 news release.
They confronted the 40-year-old and discovered his pickup was unregistered and he also had an open container of alcohol, officials said.
“The suspect was arrested for tire dumping, attempting to take an alligator, operating an unregistered vehicle and driving while in possession of an open container,” the FWC reports.
He told officers the shots were intended to ward off an alligator attack, WOFL reported. However, the officers pointed out he was shooting from inside a vehicle “and the alligator never made any threatening movements,” the station said.
As for the alligator, it “appeared to be unharmed,” officials said.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Armed truck driver illegally dumped tires, Florida cops say. Then alligator appeared."