Karmactive Team
Tampa police officers responded to a call about a disturbance in a commercial area and discovered a 9-foot alligator strolling down the street. Bodycam footage reveals officers using a yellow rope to make a noose and lasso the upper jaw of the alligator while spectators remain at a distance and watch. The officers worked together to apprehend the alligator, using duct tape to cover its eyes, wrap its mouth, and tape its legs together.
Phil Walters, a professional alligator trapper with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Nuisance Alligator Program, praised the officers’ work before he arrived on the scene. Tampa police officers successfully wrangled the alligator without any injuries to the officers or the alligator.
Walters emphasized the importance of being aware of your surroundings to avoid dangerous encounters with alligators. The alligator was eventually taken to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to find a new home.
The incident serves as a reminder that even urban areas can have unexpected wildlife encounters. Tampa police officers demonstrated their expertise and professionalism in handling the alligator and ensuring public safety.
