The Lakeland Police Department has yet to identify the body found Tuesday. The alligator let the body go and swam away, police said, adding that the state may attempt to capture the gator.
The Lakeland Police Department posted the most recent update on their Facebook page: The Lakeland Police Dept is on the scene of an alligator incident in Lake Hunter. A citizen saw what appeared to be a body in it’s mouth. The alligator swam off and the body has been recovered. No identification has been made yet on the body. FWC is at the scene as well as a trapper. More details to come .
Police responded to the scene and told WFLA TV that they saw the gator with the body.
“The officers got here and the alligator still had the person. He let the individual go, he is deceased, looks like this person may have been dead more than a day,” said Sgt. Gary Gross from Lakeland Police.
It’s not clear if the gator killed the man or how he died. “We don’t want to speculate but I will tell when the officer got here the alligator did a roll and had the person in contact with him,” added Gross.
Officers and trappers are currently at the site trying to get the body out of the lake and also catch the gator in question.
Body has been pulled out of the water. Unk victim. Detectives on the scene. Press release will be sent out later pic.twitter.com/8mt66K8tYj
— Sgt. Gary B Gross (@GaryBGross) June 7, 2016
