Florida Man is at it again, adding to the chronicles of our country’s most warped cultural icon.
The latest chapter involves a drive-thru window and an alligator. The Florida man in question this time is 23-year-old Joshua James, who was waiting in his car for his order at Wendy’s. After receiving his drink, he tossed the reptile into the restaurant. The credit card receipt for the drink order is what led authorities to James.
Oh, it’s all true. Here is the report from West Palm Beach’s WPTV NewsChannel 5:
The incident actually occurred back in October, but James was just recently taken into custody by U.S. Marshals. According to a report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, James claims to have picked up the alligator from the side of a road before going to the Wendy’s drive-thru.
It is unclear what possessed James to pick the three-and-a-half foot gator and put it in the back of his truck, let alone flinging it into a fast food establishment. But his parents are claiming it was all just a poorly thought-out prank on an employee James knew at that Wendy’s location.
“It was just a stupid prank that he did that’s now turning into this,” James’ mother, Linda, told WPTV. “He’s a prankster. He does stuff like this because he thinks it’s funny.”
Prank attempt or not, the actions will cost James. He is facing charges of aggravated assault and unlawful possession and transportation of an alligator. At a court appearance, James was ordered by a judge to stay away from all Wendy’s restaurants and to avoid contact with any animals except his mother’s dog. He will also require a mental health evaluation and undergo random drug and alcohol tests.
At least the story ended well for the alligator, which was captured and released into a nearby canal following the ordeal.
[WPTV]
