CLEVELAND, TEXAS -- A giant alligator nearly the length of a small family car was captured in Cleveland, Texas, early Monday morning as it attempted to cross Highway 59, near a Whataburger restaurant.
The gator, which measured in at 11 feet, 6 inches, was first spotted and reported to the local authorities after it was clipped by an 18-wheeler as it tried to cross the highway, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Chance Ward reported the incident to authorities and said the unusual reptilian traffic hazard was only something you'd see in Texas.
"The Gator measured 11' 6" and will be relocated alive to a safe place out of harm's way," Ward wrote in a Facebook post. "We safely placed the Gator on the flat bed of my truck and strapped him for the ride. Only in Texas will you get a Gator and Whataburger in the same picture."
Speaking to the Chronicle, Ward said he thought that the alligator would've moved by the time he had gotten to the scene, but it was still impeding traffic, causing the road to be blocked and "would rise up and hiss at them anytime someone would get close."
For comparison purposes, the average length of a small family car is between 169 inches (14-feet, 1 inch) and 185 inches (15-feet, 5 inches), depending on the model.
As firefighters shut southbound traffic on the highway, Ward eventually grabbed rope from his truck, lassoed the gator and then handed it to over animal control. It took six men to wrestle the gator onto Ward's pickup truck.
Nicknamed George by Ward, the alligator was relocated Monday morning and Ward praised a job well done by local law enforcement.
"Sergeant Edwards was very helpful with helping me untie the Gator in my stock trailer until relocation in the morning," Ward wrote in the Facebook post. "If you get a chance, thank our local law enforcement and firemen as they not only pull the criminals off the streets, they help keep the wildlife and livestock safe."
* * * * * *
Just after noon Monday, Ward was filming George again, this time as he opened the stock trailer and released the gator into a pond in Liberty County, under the guidance of the local game warden.
It took about 20 minutes to get the gator to calm down, tie him on both sides and load him onto the truck Monday morning, but the pond was apparently a welcome sight. George slid out relatively willingly and immediately went for a dip in his new home.
"This is not something we see every day in Cleveland," said Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Brousard. "I think with the recent floods and Harvey, some of these animals are on the move. I encourage anyone who has water around their place, whether it's a creek, river or stream, to be vigilant. Watch your step, especially at dark."
FLORIDA -- A Palm City man illegally shot and killed an alligator near Lake Okeechobee for its meat, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.
Officers arrested Donald Daggett in Palm Beach County on Oct. 21 and charged him with illegally killing the alligator.
A woman reported the March 12 incident to authorities on June 26, according to an arrest report.
The woman gave investigators a plastic bag full of alligator meat and video and pictures showing Daggett and another man taking an alligator from a ditch, the report states.
The men are accused of loading the alligator into Daggett's truck at an Army Corp of Engineering construction project on Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach County. More photos show the two men cleaning the alligators and then dumping them.
Records show Martin County sheriff deputies arrested Daggett in July for sexual cyber harassment toward the same woman, unrelated to the alligator investigation. Daggett was driving his same work vehicle seen in the pictures and videos at the time of this arrest.
A search of the vehicle by FWC scientists found alligator blood traces in the bed of the truck.
The woman said she went with Daggett, another man and the man’s girlfriend to the construction site with a rifle in March, an officer wrote in the report.
She said the four of them drove around a canal until they found an alligator. Daggett shot the alligator and then handed her the spent rifle cartridge, the report states.
The two men went into the ditch to get the alligator, noticed it was still alive and shot it again. They then loaded it into the back of the truck.
Later on they all drove down the road toward the 16500 block of SW Conners Hwy. The men could be seen in the pictures and video cleaning and bagging two alligators, according to the report.
The woman told officers Daggett then drove to a bridge and threw the alligator carcasses off the bridge.
Daggett was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Oct. 21 on $4,500 bond.
ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Donald Arthur Daggett
Aliases: Don Daggett, Donny Daggett, Donnie Daggett
Race: White
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 05/03/1979
Arrest Age:38
Date:10/21/2017
Time: 6:04 PM
Arresting Agency: Palm Beach Sheriff's Office
Charges
#1 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY
STATUTE: 379.409-8220
Bond: $4,500
A 38-year-old man was arrested on a warrant Wednesday, less than a month after a woman complained he had posted sexually explicit pictures of her online, along with her address and phone number, according to a Martin County Sheriff’s Office affidavit.
Donald Arthur Daggett, whose permanent address is listed as being in the 4500 block of Southwest 83rd Street in Palm City, was charged with sexual cyber harassment, records show. He was released from the Martin County Jail on Wednesday after he posted a $5,000 bond.
The images were posted to two private pages on Facebook in late June and the woman notified deputies of the matter July 8, the affidavit said. Records of an email conversation between the two indicated Daggett was angry with the woman, it said.
Full Name: Matthew Addison Cone
Alias: Matt Cone
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthdate: 05/09/1985
Arrest Age: 32
Block: 800 Belair Rd
City: Pensacola, Florida 32505
Date: 07/13/2017
Time: 12:40 PM
Arresting Agency: ESCAMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Arrest Location: Escambia County, Florida
Charges
#1 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS
STATUTE: 379.409.1 (T F)
379.409. Illegal killing, possessing, or capturing of alligators or other crocodilia or eggs; confiscation of equipment
(1) A person may not intentionally kill, injure, possess, or capture, or attempt to kill, injure, possess, or capture, an alligator or other crocodilian, or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian, unless authorized by rules of the commission.
Any equipment, including, but not limited to, weapons, vehicles, boats, and lines, used by a person in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, or order relating to alligators or other crocodilia or the eggs of alligators or other crocodilia shall, upon conviction of such person, be confiscated by the commission and disposed of according to rules and regulations of the commission.
The arresting officer shall promptly make a return of the seizure, describing in detail the property seized and the facts and circumstances under which it was seized, including the names of all persons known to the officer who have an interest in the property.
(2) The commission shall promptly fix the value of the property and make return to the clerk of the circuit court of the county wherein same was seized. Upon proper showing that any such property is owned by, or titled in the name of, any innocent party, such property shall be promptly returned to such owner.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not vitiate any valid lien, retain title contract, or chattel mortgage on such property in effect as of the time of such seizure.
(4) A person who violates this section commits a Level Four violation under s. 379.401, in addition to such other punishment as provided by law.
SOUTH CAROLINA -- Two men have been charged with harassing a baby alligator after they forced the helpless animal's jaws open and made it drink beer.
Shocking images show the suspects prying the reptile's jaws open as they pour beer down its throat.
They added this caption, believing themselves to be so clever. Instead, most people who saw this were horrified and disgusted with Joseph Floyd Jr and Zachary Brown
The two men captured the sickening act on Snapchat before the images were uploaded to Facebook.
Joseph Andrew Floyd (Joe Floyd, Joseph Floyd Jr.), 20, and Zachary Lloyd Brown (Zack Brown), 21, both of Ridgeland, were each charged with harassment of an alligator, The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said on Friday.
They admitted to officers that they picked up the alligator after they saw it crossing the a public dirt road between Hardeeville and Tillman in Jasper County.
They then poured beer into the animal’s mouth and took photos to post on social media.
According to Floyd Jr., they CLAIMED they released the alligator and watched it swim away in a nearby pond.
The pair now face a maximum $300 fine.
The shocking photographs which were posted on Snapchat show an 18-to-20 inch alligator being held by an individual as its jaws are forced open.
Another image shows someone blowing smoke into the alligator's mouth – what's known as 'shotgun' style.
The images are more horrifying because the people involved are seen squeezing the gator's throat.
'The photos were uploaded onto Snapchat by one of the kids doing harm to the animal, people saw it, got angry and they did screen shots of the images,' said Kyndel McConchie of the SC Department of Natural Resources.
Since Kyndel McConchie is referring to two men, ages 20 and 21, as "kids" then I'll go ahead and add a "child is abuser" tag to this post.
'That's how it came to our attention.'
So far, authorities are not specifying where or when these incidents took place.
'It almost brought me to tears,' one disgusted person said in a Facebook post.
'People torturing a baby gator, pouring beer in its mouth, blowing smoke in its mouth, just being plain cruel....It literally made me sick to my stomach.'
That baby alligator is dead. There's no way they simply turned it loose when torturing it was so much fun for them. Children and adolescents who derive pleasure from the torment, torture, abuse and deaths of animals have serious psychological issues that need to be addressed immediately.
FLORIDA -- A hefty bounty has been set on head of those who tortured an alligator in Indiantown.
Of course, the capture of these suspect will much more humane than what the vandals did to the poor creature.
PETA has offered a $5,000 reward for the capture of those who tortured the animal.
Martin County Deputies called the act a “heinous act of animal cruelty.”
While investigating a vandalism report at a business, deputies found a 4-foot alligator with his eyes gouged out. The alligator’s back had also been cut open.
“This alligator suffered hideously in an animal attack in which the eyes were gouged out and the back cut open while the animal was still alive,” said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange in a release.
“PETA urges anyone with information about this case to come forward immediately so that this animal torturer can be held accountable.”
The motto of PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of animals, is “animals are not ours to abuse in any way.”
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Martin County Sheriff’s Office at 772-220-7170.
FLORIDA -- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers arrested nine suspects on Wednesday for violations of Florida’s laws pertaining to possession of American alligator, alligator egg harvesting, interstate transport of alligator eggs and hatchlings, falsifying official records, dealing in stolen property, conspiracy to commit racketeering, racketeering and other wildlife violations.
These serious charges include first, second and third degree felonies.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officials set up a fully-functioning alligator farm in Arcadia in DeSoto County, with undercover officers living on property.
Over the years, the officers say they met several people dealing in illegally harvested gator eggs and illegally catching gators.
During the course of the investigation, FWC undercover officers documented numerous criminal violations, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals for 44 felony violations.
Investigators documented over 10,000 illegally harvested eggs during the course of the undercover operation.
The officers say the illegal eggs and gators were being laundered through certain alligator farms. Some of the defendants even took the officers on hunts and illegally caught and sold gators.
“Many of these suspects were part of a criminal conspiracy,” said Maj. Grant Burton, head of the FWC’s Investigations Section.
“Their crimes pose serious environmental and economic consequences. These suspects not only damage Florida’s valuable natural resources, they also harm law-abiding business owners by operating black markets that undermine the legal process.”
Wildlife conservation laws are in place to protect and manage Florida’s precious natural resources for legitimate use by the public.
When people break those laws, they jeopardize the ability of the state to manage those resources for the future. If left unchecked, this valuable natural resource could have been severely damaged.
There are aspects of this investigation that are still ongoing, and the FWC expects more arrests to be forthcoming.
The public can help by reporting suspected violations to the FWC. To make a report, call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or text Tip@MyFWC.com
SUSPECTS ARRESTED AND CHARGES:
Robert Kelly Albritton
Charges include: One felony count of Racketeering. One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. One felony count of Scheme to Defraud. Fourteen felony counts of Unlawful Possession of Alligator Eggs/Alligators.
Arrest Age: 36
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 01/21/1981
Block: 4100 Langford St
City: Arcadia, Florida 34266
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BLU
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total Bond: $48,000
Charges
PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RACKETEERING VIOLATION. BOND: $10000
PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RACKETEERING VIOLATION. BOND: $5000
FRAUD-SWINDLE - OBTAIN PROPERTY 50K DOLS OR MORE. BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2000
Robert Thomas Beasley
Charges include: One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. Six felony counts of Unlawful Possession of Alligator Eggs/Alligators.
Arrest Age:38
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/05/1979
Block: 8900 SW Rabbit Trail
City: Arcadia, Florida 34266
Height: 6'01"
Weight: 235 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BLU
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total Bond: $25,000
Charges
PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RACKETEERING VIOLATION. BOND: $10000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
David Wentworth Nellis
Charges include: One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. One felony count of Uttering a Forged Instrument. One felony count of Unlawful Possession of Alligator Eggs.
Last known address: 4333 Nellis Ln Punta Gorda, FL
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthdate: 10/10/1943
Arrest age: 73
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Charges:
Violation Code: 379.409 - Violation Description: LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY (LEV:F DEG:T 8220)
Violation Code: 901.04 - Violation Description: Out of County Warrant (LEV:N DEG:N 6265)
Carl Wayne Pickle Jr.
Charges include: One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. Four felony counts of Unlawful Possession of Alligator Eggs/Alligators.
Arrest Age: 47
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 12/22/1969
Block: 7100 NW Oak Hill Ave
City: Arcadia, Florida 34266
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 220 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BLU
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total Bond: $20,000
Charges
PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RACKETEERING VIOLATION. BOND: $10000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
Wayne Andrew Nichols
Charges include: Three felony counts of Unlawful Possession of Alligators. One felony count of Unlawful Killing of White Ibis. One first-degree misdemeanor count of Attempting to Take White Ibis.
Arrest Age:41
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 07/15/1975
Block: 3300 NW Crestwood St
City: Arcadia, Florida 34266
Height: 6'00"
Weight: 205 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BRO
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total Bond: $10,500
Charges
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION - KILL WOUND PROTECTED SPECIES OR EGGS OR NEST. BOND: $2500
CONSERVATION - KILL WOUND PROTECTED SPECIES OR EGGS OR NEST. BOND: $500
Christopher Lee Briscall
Charges include: One felony count of Unlawful Possession of Alligators. One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Stolen Property. Total bond: $5,000.
Block: 2600 Phillips Rd
City: Fort Denaud, Florida 33935
Matthew Edward Evors
Charges include: One felony count of Unlawful Possession of Alligators. One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Stolen Property.
Address: 309 NE 14th Terrace, Cape Coral, Florida
Arrest Age: 24
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 10/20/1992
Block: 300 NE 14th Terrace
City: Cape Coral, Florida 33909
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 165 lbs
Hair Color: Blond
Eye Color: Green
Charges:
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5000
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
Isaiah Joseph Romano
Charges Include: One felony count of Unlawful Possession of Alligators. One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Stolen Property.
Block: 1800 NE 17th Ave
City: Cape Coral, Florida 33909
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 12/17/1994
Arrest Age: 22
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 145 lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Arrest Date: 05/24/2017
Location: Lee County, Florida
Charges:
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
OUT OF COUNTY WARRANT
Jacob Oliver Bustin-Pitts
Charges include: One felony count of Unlawful Possession of Alligators. One felony count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Stolen Property.
Last Known Address: 3809 SE 2nd Pl permanent Cape Coral FL 33904
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 165 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Birthdate: 11/11/1993
Arrest age: 23
Total Bond: $2,500
Bond Type: Cash/Surety
Charge:
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT (OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT)
Previous arrest:
Arrest Date: 03/01/2014
Full name: Jacob Oliver Bustin-Pitts
Charge
PROB VIOLATION. BOND: $1000
Previous arrest:
Arrest Date: 12/07/2014
Full name: Jacob Oliver Bustin-Pitts
Location: Hendry County, Florida
Charge
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT. STATUTE: 901.04
Previous arrest:
Arrest date: 12/09/2014
Full name: Jacob Oliver Bustin-Pitts
Last known address: 1298 Carson Dr, LaBelle FL 33975
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 165 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Birthdate: 11/11/1993
Arrest age: 21
Booking #: 791142
Agency: Lee County Sheriff's Office
Charge:
Probation Violation (Misdemeanor)
Also arrested:
Charles Dustin Accardi
Arrest Age:25
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 05/16/1992
Block: 1100 SugarBabe Ave
City: Arcadia, Florida 34266
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 180 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: GRN
Arresting Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total Bond: $1,500
Charge:
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS - KILL INJURE POSS ALLIGATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY. BOND: $1500
Charles Daniel Brown
Arrest Age: 30
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 09/11/1986
Block: 7700 McDaniel Dr
City: North Fort Myers, Florida 33917
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 165 lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Arrest Date: 05/24/2017
Location: Lee County, Florida
Total bond: $10,000
Charges
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5,000
CONSERVATION-ANIMALS (LVL4 KILL INJUR POSS GATOR OR EGG WO AUTHORITY). BOND: $5,000
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Designation: Sexual Offender
Name: Charles Daniel Brown
Race: White
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 09/11/1986
Address: 7760 McDaniel Dr, North Fort Myers, FL 33917-1930
Adjudication Date: 06/19/2007
Crime Description: Lewd or lascivious molestation victim 12-15 years old offender 18 or older; F.S. 800.04(5)(c)(2) (PRINCIPAL)
Court Case Number: 0615954
Adjudication: Guilty/convicted
Victim Information
Gender: Unknown
Minor: Yes
OHIO -- A video posted on a Ohio child care center’s website of kids playing with an alligator and a python has started an investigation into Captive Born Reptiles.
The ODA says the undocumented animals were brought to the daycare illegally.
According to a search warrant, ODA received a complaint of an alligator and a 12-foot constrictor snake being handled by children.
Terry Wilkins, the owner of the reptiles and Captive Born Reptiles, is known showing off his animals to local schools.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture took five rattlesnakes from Terry Wilkins’ home in the 300 block of Leaning Fence Court in Pickerington.
Six constrictors more than 12 feet in length were taken from Captive Born Reptiles on Morse Road.
In Ohio, snakes longer than 12 feet require a permit. Venomous snakes also require a permit. The state requires owners to show the animals are cared for, hold adequate liability insurance for venomous snakes and provide an action plan if the snake escapes.
Mark Bruce, communications director for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the seized snakes were not in good health. He said the agency is working with reptile experts at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to provide care for the snakes, which were not kept at an adequate temperature and suffered from skin issues, including mites, officials said.
The snakes are being housed at a temporary facility in Reynoldsburg. If Wilkins does not get the snakes back after a hearing, they will be sent to a reptile sanctuary.
OBSTRUCTION
Authorities believe Wilkins took additional reptiles out of state to his pet store Newport, Kentucky.
A TV station in Cincinnati caught up Wilkins in Newport.
Wilkins claims the agents intentionally left 12 snakes in the recent freezing cold during the search warrant, resulting in their deaths, so he could not get a permit for the snakes.
As for the alligators, he says they were taken out of state “for their own safety.”
Wilkins will face a misdemeanor charge for each animal he has not registered.
TERRY WILKINS' FAMILY'S VERSION OF EVENTS
Keiko Wilkins at Captive Born Reptiles posted on Facebook January 25, 2017
Sorry for the delayed post but here is the video of the Captive Born Reptiles raid that occurred on January 17, 2017. Terry will be making a follow-up video to explain how the situation stands currently. I would like to restate that the Capital Area Humane Society, Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Fairfield County Humane Society have had over thirty people through the my family home and reptile store (Captive Born Reptiles). With over 500 animals within both of these locations, not one single citation has been given out for a sick animal, inhumane treatment of an animal or unsanitary conditions. Those thirty people including four vets spent over seventeen hours going through our property. One of the ODA’s vets, Dennis Summers did steal two anacondas from CBR. He is currently under investigation by the state inspector general.
PUERTO RICO -- A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly feeding at least 11 pit bull puppies to a caiman that he kept in his backyard, Puerto Rican authorities said Tuesday.
Police said Carlos Mahones (aka Carlos Viera, Carlos Mahones Viera) faces animal cruelty charges. They said the suspect owns a pit bull that recently gave birth to 14 puppies.
Mahones is free on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Friday. Mahones could not be reached for comment. He doesn't have a listed phone number and it isn't clear if he is represented by a lawyer.
Puerto Rico adopted a law in recent years to prosecute suspected animal abusers, seeking to combat animal cruelty.
