DIY Gator Control
A 71-year-old Florida man took serious matters into his own hands as he is accused of lassoing and tying a gator to a pole in Brevard County. Robert Colin, the gator hunter, explained to Fox 35 that he was just looking out for his community, as he was tired of gators going after turtles in his local canal. “I decided well maybe I can catch it and keep it here, because they can’t monitor it 24 hours and I’ll help them out.” Using a rope, he was able to stop a 9-foot gator by lassoing its jaw. It is clear he thought he was helping, as he then called 911 to let them know of his catch. He was then arrested for injuring a gator without authority, a third degree felony. “They said I lassoed, I didn’t lasso. I put [the rope] down and made a motion for up and down on the end of the rope,” said Colin. “He must have thought it was a turtle because the turtles are way underneath and he bit at it and when he bit at it he trapped himself in the top of the snoot.” The gator had to be put down. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office stated that “The defendant is not a licensed trapper and did not possess any proper licensing or permits to legally remove or attempt to remove an alligator.” He was released on bond.
Bag of Drugs, Literally
After a traffic stop gone wrong, Florida Highway Patrol says Lauren Riley, 41, was arrested after troopers found a variety of drugs inside a bag labeled “Bag of Drugs”. On Saturday around 11:30 a.m., the woman was seen in her vehicle going through things before she was pulled over, according to the report. The trooper who conducted the traffic stop then saw Riley under the influence and found a burnt piece of tin foil and plastic straw, leading to a probable cause search. According to troopers, the “Bag of Drugs” included a metal spoon, plastic baggies with white residue, 4 glass pipes with residue, 2 straws, Full needle, 3.25 grams of cocaine, 1.75 grams of crack cocaine, 1.5 pills of hydromorphone, 1 gram of crystal meth, 2 pills of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, and 4.5 pills of alprazolam. She was arrested for Possession of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone, alprazolam, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.
Walgreens Sleepover
A man in New Smyrna Beach was arrested after being found inside a closed Walgreens. According to police, surveillance captures him going into the bathroom before the store closed at 9:40 p.m., and not coming out of the bathroom until 2:42a.m.
He indulged in Reese’s and Ghiradelli Chocolate, Tostitos spinach dip and chips, Dr. Pepper and a pack of Newports. Officers responded to an alarm at the store on FL-44 around 3 a.m. and discovered Christopher Morgan. According to the report, security footage shows him enjoying the open space and the snacks before police arrived. The body camera video shows police asking Morgan if he was the only one in there and he responded confusedly, stating he only went into the store to use the bathroom. He resisted police when getting in the car and spit on an officer after he finally got in. He was arrested for burglary, theft, resisting an officer, and battery. Morgan also had previous convictions for larceny-petit theft.
