Watch out, Florida Man. Alaska Man is cutting in on your action with this one. Two brothers in Wasilla, Alaska got arrested Wednesday night after a heated argument involving an alligator AND a crocodile. (Yes, Wasilla is Sarah Palin’s hometown. As far as we know, she wasn’t involved.)
30-year-old Rickey Lowe and 33-year-old Tyler Lowe got in a shoving match while arguing about an anime cartoon, as adult brothers do. But things really escalated when Tyler grabbed Rickey’s pet alligator and threw it out in the snow.
Then Rickey retaliated by grabbing Tyler’s pet crocodile and throwing it outside too. It was around 30 degrees at the time. It happened at an apartment. It’s not clear if they both live there, or if one of them brought their reptile over for a hang sesh.
Rickey called the cops, scooped up his two-year-old kid, and drove off. Yes, he had his CHILD with him.
It turned out alcohol was a factor. Tyler was slurring his words when cops got there. And when they tracked Rickey down, his breath sample was almost twice the legal limit. He’d driven several miles with his kid in the car.
Cops searched outside for an hour and eventually found the gator behind some rocks. But they never found the crocodile.
Tyler got arrested for fourth-degree assault. Rickey got arrested for drunk driving and child endangerment. And they’re both facing animal cruelty charges.
(There’s a good chance the croc froze to death, but maybe not. Reptiles can enter a hibernation-like state called brumation in cold weather.)
(“Anchorage Daily News” talked to a wildlife expert who said owning crocs and gators in Alaska isn’t that uncommon. It’s legal there.)
(Anchorage Daily News / Alaska Public Media)
