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Once Again, Polk Deputies Get Between Man, Gators
JIM REED/Tribune file photo (2006)
State contracted trappers, from left, Scott Barbon, Dallas Haynie and John Wilson, wearing raincoat, wrestle with an alligator in November 2006.
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Published: March 7, 2008
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LAKELAND - LAKELAND - LAKELAND - For the second time in just more than a year, Polk County sheriff's deputies have intervened to protect Adrian Apgar from an alligator, the sheriff's office reported.
Adrian Apgar
In November 2006, a quartet of deputies waded into Lake Parker to rescue Apgar from the clutches of a large alligator that nearly killed him.
Just after midnight this morning, deputies were able to talk Apgar, 47, out of a pond at Saddle Creek park before a gator could grab him.
Other than that, the incidents, as described by the sheriff's office, sound strikingly familiar.
This is the sheriff's office account:
Deputies found an unoccupied truck parked near one of the ponds and began to investigate. They quickly learned it was Apgar's truck and began looking for him.
They found him naked, walking through the water toward an alligator about 50 feet offshore. Apgar also had been found naked in the 2006 incident. This time, deputies were able to talk Apgar safely out of the water.
He was detained under the Baker Act, which allows police to hospitalize a person whose mental condition is considered a threat to themselves or others.
Apgar told deputies he had been bitten by a snake while looking for an alligator, but it wasn't immediately clear whether that was the case.
"He told the deputies he knew he was gambling with his life. Our deputies have been placed in danger twice as a result of this man's actions," Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Apgar was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
"I applaud our deputy's actions they followed up on an abandoned truck, realized who it belonged to and found Apgar, who was placing himself in danger, again," Judd said.
The sheriff's office said Apgar could face prosecution in the case, though they did not say on what charge.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I say leave him next time. Maybe 3rd time will be charm, right Mr. Apgar?
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Posted by ( guerra ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Next time let his a** get bitten, maybe he'll learn his lesson! And what is a person with a "mental condition" doing driving a car? They sure need to keep him in Baker Act.
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Posted by ( ufbull ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well since he was naked .. maybe attempted rape of a reptile might be a good charge ..
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Posted by ( ChristinaJones ) on March 7, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
guerra, he was bitten the first time and almost died and he still did it again, so I don't think that will work. At least they Baker Acted him this time.
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Posted by ( Kowabunga ) on March 7, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
That alligator had a lot of nerve trying to stalk a crazy man trying to wash up. I say ring that gator up on attempted murder charges.
Also, Guerra is absolutely right. What is someone with a "mental condition" (I like to say crazy as hell) doing driving a vehicle. Sounds like this guy should have been locked up a year and a half ago.
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Posted by ( JLJ ) on March 7, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
He won't be held more than 48 hours for the Baker Act.
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Posted by ( guerra ) on March 7, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
ChristinaJones - i sure did miss that, my bad. Well hopefully Baker Act will knock some sense in him. Or maybe this lunatic will just return again right after he gets out of Baker Act.
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Posted by ( lovemy2boys ) on March 7, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
he was looking for a gator? Ok? maybe next time they'll just let him "find" the gator and let him get what he deserves. These cops need to stop putting themselves in this kind of danger for an idiot like this! I say let him be the next gator's meal!
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Posted by ( mailman ) on March 7, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The first alligator thought that Apgar tasted like chicken. The second alligator was p.o.'ed that he didn't get the chance to add his culinary opinion to the mix.
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on March 7, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Aren't there any mental institutions left? The man obviously doesn't belong back on the street. How does our society take care of the mentally ill or don't they? As far as letting the gator eat the guy, then they'd just have to kill the poor gator. This looks like a perfect example of someone who needs help, falling through the cracks of the system. Someone wake up and get the guy the help he needs. You're laughing now but how do you know you will never be in the same boat?
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Posted by ( luvco ) on March 7, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( luvco ) on March 7, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Wow. The tbo nazis removed my post before it even hit the screen.
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Posted by ( zarkmud ) on March 7, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"...They found him naked, walking through the water ..." Listen, Adrian, you hop naked into my pool and I will sic my pet gator on you too. Now if you want to go for a dip with the gators in your Speedo, well, that is a different kettle of fish, isn't it?
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