Deputy Uses Duct Tape to Secure Alligator at Kissimmee Plaza

An alligator roaming a plaza in Kissimmee prompted calls to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on October 31. A deputy responded to the scene and subdued the animal. Body-camera footage shows him handling the alligator with his bare hands before using duct tape to close its mouth.

The deputy then placed the animal in the back of his patrol car. The sheriff’s office said the alligator was later released safely into the water. The episode ended without the animal being kept in custody, with the sheriff’s office describing its release as involving no “jail time.”

A crowd gathered while the deputy dealt with the alligator, and people took photos. The deputy was described as having prior experience with alligators. The available details say the animal was secured and released; they do not describe any injuries. The response began after calls about the reptile at the plaza, and the alligator was returned to the water after being placed in the cruiser.