CLEARWATER – Five months after police stumbled on an exotic menagerie at a Countryside home, authorities on Monday arrested the matriarch, accusing her of illegally owning an alligator.
Julie Vu, 43, was charged with illegally killing, possessing or capturing an alligator – a felony. She was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $2,000 bail.
Clearwater police went to the Vu household at 2606 Brewton Court on Jan. 10 after receiving a complaint there were numerous chickens and roosters on the property, according to court records unsealed on Tuesday.
Julie’s son, Kevin Vu, showed authorities all the animals on the property — 22 birds, one pig, one alligator and 21 turtles, the documents state.
The alligator was found in a cage behind an empty chicken coop, in some brush, the documents state. The cage was not placed in any water, nor was it close to any water the alligator might have access to, the documents state. The other creatures were housed in similarly restricting conditions.
Find out more about this strange occasion on tbo.com
