Florida man arrested after lassoing an alligator, tying it to a fence and calling 911
Robert Colin said he wasn’t aware he was breaking the law when he lassoed the gator
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
A 71-year-old Florida man is under arrest after police say he lassoed an alligator, tied it to a fence, and called 911 to report it.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert Colin on July 31 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, an hour outside of Orlando.
Colin told police he arrived at a local canal with plans to capture an alligator he had spotted, according to the arrest affidavit. There, police say Colin used a white nylon rope to “lasso” the alligator.
He succeeded, according to the affidavit, capturing the creature by its jaw and tying the rope to a handrail.
Afterward, Colin called the police and claimed he found the alligator already tied up before walking away, the affidavit said. Colin was arrested at his nearby home.
Police have since found security footage showing the 71-year-old lassoing the alligator.
Colin is charged with injuring an alligator, and was released from the Brevard County Jail after posting $2,500 bond. Colin was not present for his first hearing on August 1.
The 71-year-old told local outlet ClickOrlando that he didn’t think he was breaking the law, and that his intention was to save other local animals from the gator.
“I tied a line here because I saw a snout coming out of this pipe,” Colin said. “He hooked his upper jaw on it and he tried to take off, but it was already tied here.”
Colin also told ClickOrlando he was joking when he told police he “found” the alligator tied up.
“This is a very public area, and they feed, of course, the turtles,” he continued. “So, I thought I’d help out. That was my intention.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.