Sick alligator found guarding pot stash

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Authorities in California said they discovered a "very sick" 5-foot alligator protecting 34 pounds of marijuana at a man's home.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said deputies were conducting a "probation compliance" check at the Castro Valley home of Assif Mayr, 32, about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and they discovered he was keeping 34 pounds of processed, dried marijuana in his bedroom, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.

Investigators said the stash was being guarded by a 5-foot-long alligator.

"We come across guard dogs like pit bulls quite frequently, but a guard alligator is very, very unusual," Sgt. J.D. Nelson said.

Mayr told deputies he obtained the reptile in 1996 "to commemorate the death of rapper Tupac Shakur," Nelson said.

The alligator, dubbed, Mr. Teeth, was taken to the Oakland Zoo, where spokeswoman Nicky Mora said the animal is "very sick."

"So we will probably treat him and keep him in a quarantine area and then figure out from there where he will be located," Mora said.

Mayr was arrested on a charge of possessing marijuana for sale and held in lieu of $160,000 bail.