A man who allegedly was fleeing police was attacked and killed by an alligator in a pond, Local 10 reported.

Miccosukee police, assisted by Sweetwater canine units, responded to a call on the Miccosukee Indian Reservation about vehicles being broken into.

Local 10's Todd Tongen said police captured one man, but another fled on foot and dove into a retention pond. Signs warned of the danger of live alligators in the pond behind the casino and hotel.

Eyewitnesses said they were shouting to the man to swim back to shore. When the man finally spotted the alligator, eyewitnesses said he screamed but then disappeared under the water.

The alligator and another smaller one were later trapped and brought to All American Gator in Pembroke Park.

Local 10 learned the larger alligator was well known on the reservation and employees had nicknamed it Poncho.

If an alligator either digests or kills a person it's a state law through Florida Fish and Wildlife that it be destroyed, so the alligator will be put in an incinerator or be buried, Tongen reported.

Wood said he's been told to keep the alligator in storage until the Miami-Dade medical examiner can inspect the reptile.

"Some gators have a nasty disposition and he was a nasty gator. He seemed to have no fear of people which indicates that he was fed," said Wood.

The body was recovered Friday by divers 50 feet below at the bottom of the lake.

Local 10 learned the man was bitten on the head several times. Miccosukee police issued a no comment statement when Local 10 inquired about the victim's identity.

Copyright 2007 by Local10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Submitted on 11/12/2007

Submitted by: Osi Peart
Reference: WPLG MIAMI 11/12/07

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Normally stories about criminals dying while fleeing the law are dismissed here as being too common, but the alligator adds a new dimension to an old story. Anyone who has lived or visited in Florida knows that you have to be extremely careful around water because a nasty gator probably lurks there. Heck, I look both ways when drinking from a water fountain there! Thanks for the story, Osi

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
This is definitely a different twist on the dumb-crook-running-from-the-cops story. I wonder if we'll see a trend of people switching from guard dogs to guard gators for protecting their property. Thanks, Osi!

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