Officials Make 3rd Arrest in Gator-Involved Beer Run Case
OutdoorHub Reporters 12.27.18
It just wouldn’t be right if we did a wrap-up of funny videos from 2018 and didn’t include this gator-involved beer run we saw a Florida man pull off…
Only in Florida does a beer run consist of bringing an alligator INTO the store with you and chasing the customers around with it. But that’s what happened at a convenience store in Jacksonville, and now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating.
The Florida resident, Robby Stratton, was filmed as he walked (stumbled is slightly more accurate) through the doors with what appears to be a 4-5 foot gator under his arm. He takes a few steps inside, and asks “y’all got beer still?” and then chases a customer down the snack isle.
The video ends shortly after Stratton takes his toothy accomplice into the beer freezer and grabs an 18-pack of Busch beer.
This here, is peak ‘Florida Man‘ material:
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Stratton said he has no recollection of the incident whatsoever:
“They told me what I did was stupid and I’ll be facing charges here soon and probably go to jail,” Statton told Action News Jax.
And as far as defending his actions, Statton offered this sentiment:
“It’s not like I was chasing grandma down at Publix with it or something.”
Indeed, however, alligators are protected in the state of Florida. Though nobody was injured in this little stunt, he could face a fine of $5,000 and five years in jail, where beer runs are severely frowned upon.
UPDATE;
According to News4Jax, a 3rd arrest has been made since this video was seen by the masses online.
“Octavious Tavares Moore, 42, of Jacksonville, was charged with unlawful possession of an alligator and cruelty to animals, which are first degree misdemeanors,” News4Jax reports. “He was taken to the Duval County jail where he was held on a $20,000 bond.”
Moore’s arrest came after the arrests of the two other men seen in the video, who face similar charges. Robert Timothy Barr, 28, and Kevin Scott Keene, 23, both of Jacksonville, are due back in court Aug. 16.
