Cop finds large alligator in employee parking space at police station, NC photos show

Alligators and police are often adversaries, so it took a lot of nerve for a gator to show up at a police station in North Carolina.

It happened early Monday, July 8, and the alligator went all in, boldly pulling into a parking space in the employee lot.

First to arrive was Officer Anthony Huddleston, who “noticed a very large object in one of the parking spaces,” Sunset Beach police reported in a Facebook post. Sunset Beach is about a 180-mile drive south from Raleigh.

“Officer Huddleston parked his vehicle to get a closer look and couldn’t believe what he was seeing. An eight-foot two inch, male alligator had wandered his way into the police department employee parking lot,” police said. “Sunset Beach police officers are often dispatched to animal control calls like this at other locations, but never have we encountered one in our very own parking lot.”

The alligator stood its ground after being discovered and had to be caught by a sergeant who is also a state licensed alligator trapper, police said.

“Out of concern for the safety of our employees and the alligator, the alligator was safely relocated to a nearby pond,” police said. “You often hear the saying ‘keep your eyes on your surroundings’ and (Monday) is a perfect example of why you should always be aware of your surroundings.”

It’s the second time this summer an alligator has caused a ruckus in Sunset Beach. On June 20, one showed up outside a Mexican restaurant and was outed when a car owner saw its head sticking out from under the vehicle, police said.

This story was originally published July 9, 2024 at 7:55 AM with the headline "Cop finds large alligator in employee parking space at police station, NC photos show."