VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – News 6 has obtained body camera video from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office that shows a deputy arresting a 14-year-old boy accused of picking up a baby alligator and swinging it by its tail.
The video, which was recorded on April 3, shows the deputy placing the teen in handcuffs and buckling him into the backseat of a patrol car.
The teen is facing a felony charge after he was caught on surveillance video capturing and swinging a baby alligator at the Stetson Aquatic Center, an arrest report states.
The incident occurred at the aquatic center located at 2636 Alhambra Ave. in DeLand. A Stetson public safety officer contacted the Volusia Sheriff’s Office after witnessing a group of juveniles with a baby alligator near the boat docks.
[BELOW: What we know after teen arrested for swinging baby alligator]
A deputy responded to the aquatic center at approximately 8:50 p.m. and made contact with five juveniles near the scene. When the deputy mentioned the reason for the call, all five denied any knowledge of an alligator.
After speaking with the university’s public safety officer, the deputy reviewed surveillance footage at Stetson’s public safety office at 405 N. Amelia Ave. The video showed the teen holding the baby alligator by its tail, swinging it back and forth, according to the arrest report. The public safety officer told the deputy the footage only captured portions of the event, but that she also watched portions of the incident live — including seeing the teen kick at the alligator and swing it over his head.
The teen was taken into custody and transported to the VSO Juvenile Resource Center.