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Florida Man Charged After Allegedly Throwing Live Alligator Through Drive-Thru Window

A Florida man was playing a “stupid prank” when he threw an alligator through a Wendy’s drive-thru window, his mother said Tuesday after learning he had been hit with multiple charges.

A South Florida man was taken into custody after he was accused of placing an order at a Wendy’s in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, taking his drink and then pitching in a three-and-a-half foot gator through the drive-thru window when the server turned around. (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Joshua James has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; unlawful sale, possession or transporting of an alligator; and petty theft, according to the Washington Post.

The Post reported he was 24 years old, while CNN said he was 23.

The South Florida man was accused of placing an order at the fast-food chain before taking his drink and pitching the three-and-a-half foot gator through the window, CNN reports.

The incident occurred on Oct. 11, according to the Post, and he was arrested this week.

“He’s a prankster,” his mom, Linda James, told CNN affiliate WPTV. “He does stuff like this because he thinks it’s funny.”

When asked if she believed employees at Wendy’s viewed it as a prank, she said yes.

“Well, I mean, how could you not think something like that was a prank?” Linda James said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were not amused.

They used the credit card receipt from the soda purchase to track down James, according to CNN.

CNN contributed to this report.

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