Traffic stop gets weird as young alligator is found in man’s pickup, Florida cops say

A routine traffic stop in Florida took a strange turn when deputies found the truck’s passengers included a young alligator, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

The discovery was made around 12:30 a.m. on April 8, when deputies pulled over a GMC Sierra pickup in the Golden Gate Estates community, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The area is about 35 miles south of Fort Myers.

“Deputies found more than they bargained for ... after they recognized the driver from previous law enforcement encounters as having a suspended license,” officials said.

“A live baby alligator in an open plastic tub was located in the bed of the pickup, along with two firearms inside the truck. One firearm was concealed in the glove box and the other was hidden under the front passenger seat.”

A search of the 31-year-old suspect’s jacket also revealed “multiple loaded syringes ... (that) tested positive for methamphetamine,” officials said.

Investigators said the man provided a Naples home address, which is also the location of a roofing and tile repair business.

The suspect was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotic equipment. He was also issued a state citation for possession of an alligator, “a second-degree misdemeanor which is punishable by a jail term of up to 60 days and a fine of up to $500.”

“The alligator was later released unharmed,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told McClatchy News.

“Typically, when an alligator has been seized by law enforcement as a part of an illegal incident, the alligator will be returned to the population alive, as long as it has not been deemed a nuisance.”

This story was originally published April 11, 2022 at 6:40 AM with the headline "Traffic stop gets weird as young alligator is found in man’s pickup, Florida cops say."