Man charged with using alligator as dangerous weapon at Wendy's drive-thru

Alligators have been used as shoes, briefcases, university mascots, lunch and now, authorities say, a deadly weapon.

Joshua James, 24, was arrested Monday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after Florida fish and wildlife conservation officials say he threw a 3ft 6in-long (1.1metre) alligator through the window of a drive-thru Wendy’s in Palm Beach county in October.

He was also charged with illegally possessing an alligator and petty theft. Jail records show he was released on $6,000 bail on Tuesday.

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He was ordered to have no contact with animals.

Wildlife officer Nicholas Guerin said in his report that James drove his pickup truck to the window at about 1.20am on 11 October. After an employee handed James his drink, he threw the alligator through the window and drove off.

No one was hurt. Guerin captured the alligator and released it into the wild. Guerin said James was tracked down through video surveillance and a purchase at a nearby convenience store.

Guerin wrote that James admitted throwing the alligator in a December interview. He said James told him he had found the alligator on the side of the road and put it in his truck.