Community Corner

New London Nabs Runaway Alligator

After a brief foot chase, police cornered the beast until animal control arrived with a cage. It is now in the custody of the state DEEP.

At around 12:30 p.m. Saturday New London police received a call from a resident that an alligator was in their front yard.

When police arrived at Broad and Georgianna streets, the 3 1/2 foot long gator took off running.

Police were able to "contain" the beast in a small grassy area off Broad Street until animal control arrived with a cage, a press release said.

NLPD turned the alligator over to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection later in the day.

Under a state law that was updated in 2012, it is illegal to own an alligator in Connecticut. The state held an amnesty day last year allowing exotic pet owners to turn in illegal pets with no penalty. Animals that you cannot own in Connecticut include alligators, anacondas, pythons, cobras, monitor lizards, gibbons, hyenas and kangaroos.


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