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Bodycam video: Gator wrangled from hotel tub
A woman allegedly "borrowed" an alligator from her previous job for a birthday photoshoot and kept it inside a hotel bathtub, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. An FWC officer was dispatched to the Grove Resort and Water Park in Winter Garden on September 4 – after the Orange County Sheriff's Office requested assistance in dealing with a juvenile alligator that a woman, identified as Madison Stephan, was keeping inside the hotel bathroom, according to the incident report.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - (The video above is from a previous, unrelated incident.)
A man from Saint Cloud has found himself in hot water after officers discovered he was keeping five alligators in a bathtub at his home, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Robert Robinson was issued a criminal citation for the personal possession of wildlife without a Class II permit after officers found the gators at his home on Oct. 23, according to an incident report obtained by FOX 35 News.
Officers received an anonymous tip that said someone was keeping juvenile alligators in a bathtub at his home, the report said. Officers visited the home mentioned in the tip and were greeted by someone sitting on the front porch. They contacted Robinson, who was confirmed as the owner of the house.
Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
ANOTHER ONE?: Florida woman 'borrowed' alligator from previous job for hotel birthday photoshoot, kept it in bathtub: FWC
Robinson, over the phone, told officers that he did have alligators in his home and also gave them permission to go inside to check it out, the report said.
Inside the bathroom in Robinson's bedroom, officers found five alligators inside the bathtub, the report said. They double-checked the other rooms in Robinson's house to make sure he wasn't in possession of any more animals before grabbing the handful of gators.
Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Officers caught up with Robinson near his work to speak in person, to which the 38-year-old man revealed he caught the alligators from a pond near his home. It remains unclear how long Robinson was in possession of these alligators.
He was issued a citation, which carries a mandatory court appearance.
Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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The alligators were released into Lake Tohopekaliga.