Florida man arrested after trying to throw alligator on roof to teach it ‘a lesson’

A man from Florida has been arrested after he told police he wanted to teach an alligator a “lesson” by beating it and attempting to throw it on a rooftop.

William Hodge from Homestead was arrested on Thursday after he stole an alligator from a miniature golf course, beat it and then tried throwing it on the roof of a beachside cocktail lounge, officials said, The Associated Press reported.

Daytona Beach Shores police officers caught the 32-year-old when they saw him attempting to throw the alligator on the roof.

The officers said in the police report they saw Hodge beat the alligator against the wall of the building by swinging it with its tail and then threw the animal to the ground to stomp on it, according to the AP.

The man told the police he was “teaching it a lesson.”

The man is still in jail on Friday and is facing charges of possession and injury of an alligator, unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling, theft and criminal mischief.