A Florida man stole a live alligator from a miniature golf course, assaulted it, and tried to hurl the reptile onto the roof of a cocktail bar, police said.
Officers in Daytona Beach Shores, Fla. said they watched 32-year-old William Hodge grab the alligator by the tail and slam it against a building before throwing it to the ground and stomping on it.
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Police arrested 32-year-old William Hodge, charging him with burglary, theft, and possession and injury of an alligator. Investigators said he jumped the fence of a feeding enclosure at Congo River Golf’s miniature course to steal the animal.
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Police body camera footage showed the alligator lying on the sidewalk as officers handcuffed Hodge. The alleged alligator thief told police he and the gator had “a brief wrestling match” before stealing it.
When asked why he attacked the alligator, Hodge told police he intended to “teach it a lesson,” authorities said. The gator survived the assault, a WOFL reporter said.
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