Alligator helps catch suspected car thief in Florida

PORT ST. LUCIE , Fla., May 16 (UPI) -- Florida police officers who were attempting to catch a suspected car thief got a little help when an alligator decided to cross the road.

Port St. Lucie police were on the lookout for a man they suspected had taken at least five cars from parking lots at Walmart, Sam's Club and Publix. Officers eventually spotted Calvin Rodriguez in a Honda Civic and tried to stop him.

Unfortunately, the car "began driving at a high rate of speed and was lost sight of."

That's when the alligator stepped in.

Police were able to catch up with Rodriguez when he hit the alligator and was stopped.

"The Honda was later discovered to have crashed into an alligator, causing it to crash into a median," according to a police report. "This shows that Calvin was in control of the Honda that struck the alligator and the median."

Rodriguez is charged with five counts of grand theft auto but is not facing animal cruelty charges for hitting the alligator.

"It's pretty unimaginable that police officers would be at that point in time looking for these suspects and that an alligator unfortunately just happens to cross the road and assist us in catching these criminals," Det. Keith Boham told WPTV.