Teen charged with dumping gator in Florida convenience store

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Florida authorities say they’ve charged a teen with dumping a live alligator in a convenience store earlier this month.

The Bradenton Herald reports that the 17-year-old boy was issued a misdemeanour citation Friday charging him with illegally possessing or harvesting an American alligator. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office says the teen was not arrested but given notice to appear in court July 21.

The sheriff’s office was alerted to the two-foot (60-centimetre) alligator around 2:30 a.m. June 15. Deputies contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which sent a trapper to the Wawa store in Lakewood Ranch. The alligator was relocated to a suitable environment.

Officials had previously said two people dropped off the reptile, but authorities say no one else is expected to face charges.

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Information from: The Bradenton (Fla.) Herald , http://www.bradenton.com