Connecticut authorities seize alligator from marijuana grow house

NEW HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in Connecticut said they arrested a man accused of growing marijuana as well as a different type of possession -- the kind involving an alligator.

The Connecticut State Environmental Police said in a Facebook post that officers searched the New Hartford home of Jake Ouellette after the man's landlord tipped off authorities to the presence of an illegal reptile in the home.

Police said they obtained a search warrant for the home after discovering Ouellette had warrants for his arrest in Connecticut and Florida. They discovered a marijuana growing operation in the home as well as the 2-foot-long American alligator.

"Numerous marijuana plants, seeds, rolled joints, hash oil, e-cigarettes containing hash oil with USB adapters, packaging materials and equipment, drug paraphernalia and interior growing equipment including seed starter kits, sheets of foil, fertilizer and log books containing transactions and various species of marijuana were all within plain view throughout the apartment," environmental police wrote.

Ouellette was arrested at his job July 27 and charged with illegal possession of an American alligator, possession of over 4 ounces of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to sell, and manufacturing of marijuana.

The alligator was turned over to "a reptile rehabilitative and educational organization."