Kansas Police Open Fire At Lawn Ornament, Mistaking It For An Alligator - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 06-03-2011, 09:04 PM

http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/02/..._n_870428.html

First Posted: 06/2/11 01:53 PM ET Updated: 06/2/11 02:58 PM ET

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police responding to a rare alligator sighting in suburban Kansas City took quick action to dispatch of the beast, shooting it in the head, as instructed, while it lurked menacingly in the weeds leading down to a pond.

It wasn't until a second rifle shot bounced off the reptile's head that the officers realized they had mortally wounded a concrete lawn ornament.

A resident of a subdivision near the pond called police Saturday evening to report that his children spotted the alligator while they were playing in some nearby woods.

After consulting a conservation agent, who told them to kill the gator if they felt it posed a danger, one of the officers shot it twice in the head before realizing something was up, said Tom Gentry, an Independence police spokesman.

"It didn't move," Gentry said. "They inched up closer and closer and discovered it was a mock-up of a real alligator made to look like it was real."

In the officers' defense, it was growing dark when they shot the fake gator and it was partially submerged in the weeds.

The property owner told police that the gator was meant to keep people off his property, Gentry said. Officers told him a no-trespassing sign would have been wiser.

old grouch · 06-04-2011, 09:38 AM

Those fake alligators can be pretty dangerous.

catlover79 · 06-04-2011, 12:34 PM

Think there were a lot of red faces in Independence?

robyrob · 06-04-2011, 04:15 PM

atleast nobody got hurt.

Janice · 06-04-2011, 05:14 PM

That's funny, but I wonder why they'd have to shoot a real alligator. Why not shoot it with a tranquilizer gun and call a zoo?

Janice · 06-04-2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

Those fake alligators can be pretty dangerous.

catlover79 · 06-04-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's funny, but I wonder why they'd have to shoot a real alligator. Why not shoot it with a tranquilizer gun and call a zoo?

Because that makes sense!!!

Reverend Jim · 06-04-2011, 08:35 PM

catlover79 · 06-04-2011, 08:37 PM

Yeah, but they wouldn't scare anyone, which was the homeowner's intent.

06-03-2011, 09:04 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Kansas Police Open Fire At Lawn Ornament, Mistaking It For An Alligator http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/02/..._n_870428.html First Posted: 06/2/11 01:53 PM ET Updated: 06/2/11 02:58 PM ET INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Police responding to a rare alligator sighting in suburban Kansas City took quick action to dispatch of the beast, shooting it in the head, as instructed, while it lurked menacingly in the weeds leading down to a pond. It wasn't until a second rifle shot bounced off the reptile's head that the officers realized they had mortally wounded a concrete lawn ornament. A resident of a subdivision near the pond called police Saturday evening to report that his children spotted the alligator while they were playing in some nearby woods. After consulting a conservation agent, who told them to kill the gator if they felt it posed a danger, one of the officers shot it twice in the head before realizing something was up, said Tom Gentry, an Independence police spokesman. "It didn't move," Gentry said. "They inched up closer and closer and discovered it was a mock-up of a real alligator made to look like it was real." In the officers' defense, it was growing dark when they shot the fake gator and it was partially submerged in the weeds. The property owner told police that the gator was meant to keep people off his property, Gentry said. Officers told him a no-trespassing sign would have been wiser. Attached Images
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06-04-2011, 04:15 PM	#4
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	atleast nobody got hurt.
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06-04-2011, 09:38 AM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Those fake alligators can be pretty dangerous.

06-04-2011, 12:34 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Think there were a lot of red faces in Independence?

06-04-2011, 05:14 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That's funny, but I wonder why they'd have to shoot a real alligator. Why not shoot it with a tranquilizer gun and call a zoo?

06-04-2011, 08:35 PM	#8
Reverend Jim Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 08, 2009 Location: New York City Posts: 783

06-04-2011, 08:37 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Yeah, but they wouldn't scare anyone, which was the homeowner's intent.