In the US state of Florida, police officers in the city of West Palm Beach encountered an alligator roaming in a car park, leading to an unusual situation.
According to local authorities, a video of the incident has gone viral on social media. The footage shows an officer standing close to the alligator and calmly bringing the situation under control.
A Florida police officer managed to wrangle an alligator in a West Palm Beach parking lot.🐊 pic.twitter.com/pMYxuOgok1
— ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵗᵃʳʸ Pastor Bob Joyce (@Real_Bob_Joyc) April 25, 2026
In the widely shared clip, the officer first taps the animal lightly on the snout in an attempt to subdue it, before swiftly gripping its jaws with both hands.
Shortly afterwards, another officer arrives at the scene and the alligator’s mouth is secured with tape to enable its safe removal and to protect the public from harm.
The police department, sharing the video, remarked with humour that it was a routine patrol – until it was not – highlighting the unpredictable nature of law enforcement duties.
Residents praised the officers’ professionalism and composure, while experts advised the public to report such dangerous wildlife to the authorities rather than attempting to handle the situation themselves.
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