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Polk Man Pleads Not Guilty To Swimming Naked With Gators

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AMERICA DEUPREE and ERIC HAUSMANN

News Channel 8

Published: June 20, 2008

By AMERICA DEUPREE

and ERIC HAUSMANN

News Channel 8

BARTOW — Adrian Jay Apgar, who deputies say twice in little more than a year had naked encounters with alligators, pleaded not guilty this morning in Polk County Circuit Court to exposing himself, trespassing, breach of peace and failure to appear in court.

The charges stem from a March incident in which Apgar, 47, was found by Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies naked and wading in Saddle Creek Park near several alligators.

Apgar told deputies he had been bitten by a snake while looking for an alligator, but they found no evidence of that. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Apgar's behavior was delusional.

He was detained under the Baker Act, which allows police to hospitalize a person for 72 hours if his mental condition is considered a threat to himself or others. He was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

It was Apgar's second naked run-in with gators.

In November of 2006, authorities waded into Lake Parker where four deputies rescued Apgar from a large alligator that tore off his left arm except for a few tendons. Apgar claimed he had fallen asleep on a rock when he was attacked by the alligator and pulled into the water. Neighbors heard his screams and called Polk County Sheriff's office. He tested positive for methamphetamines and marijuana.

Apgar was supposed to appear in court last week on the most recent charges, but he failed to show.

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