Police capture gator on its morning stroll

CLEVELAND, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Cleveland police teamed with a reptile enthusiast Wednesday to help capture an alligator that apparently decided to enjoy a nice morning stroll.

After the potentially deadly animal was safely restrained by local authorities, police were contacted by an unidentified woman who informed them of the large reptile's probable owner, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

"I have seen the guy outside on the sidewalk playing with that thing. It is huge," the unidentified informant said in an e-mail. "That makes me angry -- there are tons of kids in that area, waiting for school buses in the morning."

She also warned that the animal did not appear to be too pleased with how it's owner used it as entertainment for his friends, the newspaper reported.

"He was setting it down, letting it run a little, then picking it up and putting it back where it started," she said. "The alligator was whipping his tail and head around and did not look very happy."