Sarasota police sergeant captures stolen alligator

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Sarasota police received a call from a resident reporting an alligator had wandered into his front yard on Wednesday, and one skilled sergeant saved the day. 

A gator made himself at home on the doorstep of a house in the 3200 block of Tallywood Lane in Sarasota, so the resident called in police to help evict the large reptile. 

Luckily, it just so happened that Sergeant Bruce King was nearby. According to the Sarasota PD, King used to work for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and has experience capturing alligators. 

Sgt. King responded to the scene and discovered that the gator had actually been captured before-- recently. gator had a taped snout and a tag from a trapper. 

Police say the gator had been inside a trailer, however the trailer was broken into and the gator was stolen.  

Somehow, the reptile ended up in the residential community where Sgt. King captured it. 

After the gator was loaded into Sgt. King's vehicle with the assistance of Officer Justin Toler, he was delivered to two trappers from FWC. 

The Sarasota Police Department posted about the incident on their Facebook page, saying "Gators or not, we're always here if you need us. Be safe! #FloridaLife."