STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Sterling Heights police are trying to figure out who owns a 4-foot-long alligator that was found hiding under a car Thursday morning.
Police were called to Summit Drive at around 9 a.m. when the alligator was first discovered. Since they have not been trained in how to handle an alligator, the officers asked for help to wrangle it from The Reptarium zoo in Utica.
The Reptarium says the alligator is around 3 years old to 5 years old and is an American alligator.
Watch police body camera of the capture below:
Once the alligator was captured, it was taken to The Reptarium Zoo to be properly cared for.
The Reptarium Zoo is beloved in the community. Owner Brian Barczyk died earlier this year from pancreatic cancer, and leaves behind a legacy.
Watch our report when Barczyk died in the video below:
Officials with the Sterling Heights Police Department are also reminding people that while "it may seem to be cool to own an exotic animal such as an alligator," it is still dangerous and against city ordinance to have one. In the city of Sterling Heights, owning a dangerous animal like an alligator is a misdemeanor with a potential fine of up to $500.
"We can't have an alligator in Sterling Heights," Sterling Heights Police Lt. Aaron Susalla said. "That is something that we do want to stress that it is illegal to possess an animal like this."
Susalla arrived on scene to help wrangle the animal. He's responded to monkey, owl and hawk calls before but never an alligator.
"I was surprised by the size of it. It was a good size," he said.
The gator was found under Marysoul Mousa-Aqrawi's car as she was trying to leave for work.
“And everybody’s like 'there’s an alligator under your car!' And I’m like 'are you serious?' And then I look and here we go — he’s laying down under my car," she said.
Meanwhile, the subdivision this happened in is full of children and pets, and they're just glad the gator wasn't hungry.
"Definitely a little scary," pet owner and neighbor Jinah Kim said.
Anyone with information about who may own the alligator is asked to contact the Sterling Heights Police Department Animal Control at 586-446-2879.
