Palm City man accused of enticing alligator to bite him, pouring beer in its mouth

Sara Marino | Treasure Coast Newspapers

Show Caption Hide Caption Man accused of encouraging gator to bite him The man and his friend were both arrested on one felony charge each of unlawfully taking an alligator

PALM CITY— A Hobe Sound man is accused of enticing an alligator to bite his arm and pouring beer into the reptile's mouth after his friend caught the animal.

Timothy Kepke, 27, of the 6200 block of Southeast Croton Place in Hobe Sound and Noah Osborne, 22, of the 3000 block of South Kanner Highway in Stuart were both arrested Oct. 3 on one felony charge each of unlawfully taking an alligator.

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In August, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission got a complaint about Kepke holding an alligator and enticing the reptile to bite his right forearm and then pouring beer in the animal's mouth, according to a FWC report.

After the beer is poured, the alligator aggressively reacts. The interaction was filmed, records show. A request for the video was not fulfilled Monday.

Officers said on Sept. 17 they went to Kepke's home, where Kepke told them he was the person in the video.

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Kepke told officers Osborne caught the reptile with his bare hands along Ranchwood Street in Palm City about 10 p.m. Aug. 26. After Osborne caught the alligator, Kepke told officers he enticed it to bite him and then poured beer into its mouth.

The pair then released the gator alive, Kepke told officers.

Kepke also told officers he had a couple of beers, but wasn't drunk when the incident happened.

Florida Alligator Hunting Season Alligator hunting season runs Aug. 15 to Nov. 1 in Florida. Unlike commercial trapping seen on TV, hunters follow strict guidelines to hunt in FL.

Kepke told officers a female friend was there when the incident happened.

On Sept. 21, officers spoke with the friend, who confirmed what Osborne and Kepke said.

The woman told officers she thought the reptile bit Kepke because of his actions.

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Officers issued arrest warrants for Kepke and Osborne in September and arrested both Oct. 3.

Kepke and Osborne were taken to the Martin County Jail with $5,000 and $2,500 bonds, respectively. They were released later Oct. 3.