Man arrested after leaving dead rattlesnake on northern Arizona police memorial as a prank

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. – A 23-year-old man thought it would be funny to put a dead rattlesnake on a northern Arizona police memorial, but authorities were not amused.

Nathan Cody Cumiford, of Cottonwood, was arrested Monday and faces a misdemeanour littering charge. He was released on his own recognizance.

Cottonwood police say surveillance video shows Cumiford placing the reptile on a statue honouring fallen officers.

Sgt. Tod Moore says when Cumiford was asked why he did it, he laughed and said it was meant to be a joke.

Cottonwood is about 100 miles north of Phoenix. Cumiford told police he killed the snake somewhere between the town and Tuzigoot National Monument, which is a few more miles north.

A phone listing for Cumiford was out of service and he couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday through a Facebook page.

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