Man killed by alligator in Miami-Dade retention pond

November 14, 2007


Authorities in Miami-Dade County are investigating the death of a man who was attacked by an alligator after he jumped into a retention pond outside of Miccosukee Resort and Gaming while fleeing from police.

Investigators from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plan to meet this morning to make an official ruling on the death, which happened last Thursday, said Jorge Pino, spokesman for the wildlife commission.

The identity of the man who died at the resort and casino in West Miami-Dade, has not been released by Miccosukee police.

Officers had been chasing the man after they caught him breaking into a vehicle parked outside the resort and casino when he ran into the pond, officials said.

The body was recovered by tribal divers on Friday.

Man Trying To Escape Police Killed By Gator
Police Not Releasing Victim's Identity

POSTED: 9:02 pm EST November 12, 2007
UPDATED: 3:44 pm EST November 13, 2007


MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- 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.

All American Gator Owner Brian 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.

http://www.local10.com/news/14578234/detail.html

Any bets on some lawyer suing the Casino because the guy killed was an illegal and couldn't read the signs which were most likely printed only in English?

Stupid hurts. Sometimes it even kills.