Dancer, gators and pot found in home

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OLYMPIA, Wash., Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Deputies in Washington state who answered a call about gunfire say they walked into a home and found a pole dancer, two hissing alligators and a cache of pot.

It may sound like the plot line for a movie, or maybe a bad joke, but Thurston County sheriff's deputies say the Monday night incident near Olympia was real, The Seattle Times reported.

Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Greg Elwin said two investigators were greeted at the door by a 41-year-old man, who told them he had fired a weapon in self-defense after someone tried to run him over outside his home.

Elwin said the officers suspect the man actually shot at a car that had pulled up in an ambush-style attack, since a 30-year-old man later showed up at an Olympia hospital to be treated for a gunshot wounds.

Back inside the home, investigators found a floor-to-ceiling brass poll and talked to an exotic dancer, Elwin said. In another room they discovered the two 5-foot long alligators crawling around.

"They were there for protection for the marijuana grow area," Elwin said.

They arrested the 41-year-old man for investigation of attempted murder and called County Animal Control officials to take care of the gators.

"We don't know what the legalities are of keeping alligators, it could be just fine," Elwin said.