Joshua James, a native of Jupiter, Florida, was arrested on Monday due to a bizarre crime he committed late last year. According to official court documents, James used a live alligator as a deadly weapon by throwing it inside the drive-thru window of a local Wendy's restaurant.
The incident happened during the early hours of Oct. 11, 2015 at the Palm Beach branch of the popular fast food chain. Reports indicated that James, along with a passenger, drove up to the drive-thru lane of Wendy's at around 1:30 a.m., the Washington Post has learned.
But, instead of paying for his order, James took out a three-and-half-foot-long alligator from his vehicle and tossed it inside the window of the restaurant while the female attendant was not looking. Authorities were immediately called in and one of the responding officers secured the alligator and used tape to close its jaw for safety reasons. The animal was then released into a nearby canal.
After his arrest on Monday, James was questioned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission regarding the incident. According to wildlife officer Nicholas Guerin, the suspect said he found the alligator on the road, The Guardian reported.
Due to the incident, James was charged aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, petty theft, and the illegal possession and transportation of an alligator. During his court appearance, James was told by the judge to undergo mental health evaluation and refrain from owning weapons. He was also ordered to avoid all Wendy's restaurants and was banned from possessing animals other than his mother's pet dog. He was released on Tuesday with a bail set at $6,000, according to WPTV.
In his defense, James parents told reporters that their son was only pulling a prank on the employee of the Wendy's restaurant, whom he knew. They also said that James is an outdoor enthusiast and looked up to the late conservationist and crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.
