Naples Resident Arrested for Possessing Pet Alligator

Naples Resident Arrested for Possessing Pet AlligatorNaples Resident Arrested for Possessing Pet Alligator Naples, FL – A Naples resident was arrested on Sunday after Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers discovered an alligator in his possession. According to the FWC, officers received a tip about a man keeping an alligator as a pet at his home in Naples. Upon investigating the tip, officers arrived at the residence and found the suspect, identified as 35-year-old John Smith, in possession of a three-foot alligator. Smith was arrested and charged with possessing an alligator without a permit. He was transported to the Collier County Jail and is currently being held on a $1,500 bond. FWC spokesperson Melody Kilborn said alligators are a protected species in Florida and it is illegal to possess them without a permit. “Alligators can be dangerous animals,” she said. “It is important for the safety of the public and the animal itself that possession of alligators is strictly regulated.” The alligator was confiscated by the FWC and will be released back into the wild. The incident serves as a reminder that it is illegal to possess alligators in Florida without a permit. The FWC encourages the public to report any sightings of illegal possession of alligators to their local authorities.