Drug bust leads to man arrested for having alligator in hot tub

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – A search warrant led to the arrest of two people, one on drug charges, another for keeping an alligator illegally, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

The Multi Agency Criminal Enforcement (MACE) Unit served the warrant and arrested Crystal Williams, 26, at the same location Tony Wells, Jr., 32, was arrested for keeping an illegal alligator, according to authorities. Wells was arrested by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Williams faces charges of possession of cocaine, tampering with evidence, and possession of marijuana, according to the Sheriff’s Office.


INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — An Indian River County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon for keeping an alligator in his hot tub, according to a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.

Tony Wells, Jr., 32, was arrested at his home in the 6000 block of 4th Street when FWC found an alligator being kept illegally in a hot tub after serving a search warrant, according to authorities.

Wells told authorities that the alligator was there when he moved in and he was just feeding the alligator, according to FWC. The alligator had been there about a year, Wells told investigators.

When asked what he fed it Wells replied, “chicken, just chicken.”

Wells had no permits on file to keep the alligator, according to authorities. He faces charges of possession of an alligator without a tag, and has been released on $500 bond.

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