Alligator apprehended after lurking around Lakeland parking lot
Deputy holds alligator captured in Lakeland parking lot. Image is courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
LAKELAND, Fla. - A suspicious suspect stashing under cars in a Polk County parking lot was captured and released into the wild on Tuesday.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Sheriff Bujnovsky was called to Boren Fire Protection in Lakeland because an alligator was lurking under an employee’s car.
Deputy Bujnovsky wrangled the restless reptile and noted that it didn’t want to speak about the situation.
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In a social media post, PCSO joked that the apprehended animal was probably giving the silent treatment because its mouth was taped shut.
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PCSO says the deputy removed the tape and released the gator into a nearby lake.
Editor's Note: Initially the social media post from the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that "the tape easily comes off in the water." The agency removed the Tweet and clarified that the deputy took the tape off before releasing the animal and apologized for what was meant to be a joke.