The police were serving a warrant when they came across the reptile

Oct 18, 2013 13:10 GMT  ·  By

Police in Florida have come across an alligator in a hot tub, as they were serving a warrant for a charge related to drugs.

The incident took place in Vero Beach, Huffington Post reported. They arrested a woman for cocaine possession but also spotted the reptile in the unusual place.

The suspect was not the owner of the pet. The homeowner, Tony Wells, Jr., explained to officials that he had found the gator in the house when he moved there.

He has been keeping it alive for about a year, feeding it chickens. Wells has also been charged, with possession of an alligator without a permit.

"I believe this is probably the first time we've ever seen an alligator in a hot tub," comments Indian River County Sheriff's spokesman, Thomas Raulen.