There are a lot of brave men and women who wear the blue in the Sunshine State. But like any group, there are also some fucking knuckleheads. Exhibit A: certain officers with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Called to the scene of an animal kill, they promptly arrested 74-year-old Reginald Blanton for shooting an alligator that was only trying to eat his horses and that took a plug out of his 58-year-old stepson. When asked about their idiotic response by MyFox8, a spokesperson said, “Our officers obviously thought there was enough evidence to go ahead with a misdemeanor charge of illegal take of alligator.” Yeah. Alligator. Horses. Bitten human. Not enough of a threat there apparently.
The lesson here: Florida is an inviting state for tourists and retirees alike. But if you see a gator coming, kiss your ass goodbye or face the consequences.
[Image via Allen McGregor | Flickr Creative Commons | Resized and Cropped | CC BY 2.0]
