Post date: Dec 18, 2013 1:13:55 AM
A customer at a Miami convenient store surprised other customers and the store owner when he showed up and tried to pay for a six pack of beer with a live alligator.
MIAMI, FLORIDA (DECEMBER 17, 2013) (REUTERS) - A Florida man walked into a convenience store with a 4-foot alligator and tried to trade it for a 12-pack of beer on Tuesday, according to wildlife authorities who cited him with illegally taking the animal from a park and the store owner who was shocked at the offering.
"That crazy guy, he came to the store with a small alligator. He tried to sell it to buy a couple of beers," said Javier Herrera, the store owner.It was unclear why the man thought the clerk at the Santa Ana Market in Miami would accept the reptile as payment. Herrera said he was concerned that the wild animal might get lose and bite one of his customers so he asked the man to leave but he would not.
"I was scared. It's the first time that I see somebody with that kind of animal in the store," he said.
Herrera said that one of the customers called authorities and Fernando Caignet Aguilera was arrested and charged with possessing, illegally taking and attempting to sell an alligator.
"He was standing over there with the alligator. After that, five minutes later, the police came here to arrest him because somebody called 911," said Herrera.
Each of the three misdemeanor charges carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine up to $500, according to wildlife authorities.
"This guys is crazy!" said Herrera.
The alligator was unharmed and was released back into the wild, he said.