DWI suspect flees sheriff into swamp only to be attacked by ALLIGATOR who has now been given 'award'
An alligator was handed a joke award by a Louisiana sheriff after attacking a man suspected of driving while impaired after he tried to escape across a swamp.The unnamed reptile was given a 'deputy of the year' prize by St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office after the attack on Victor Rivas, 40, on June 7. Rivas was spotted driving a Toyota recklessly along Interstate 10, the sheriff's office said.The car had a blown tire and sustained damage from a collision with a concrete barrier. Louisiana State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 310 and reported that Rivas, of Montz, displayed signs of impairment.It was at that point that Rivas allegedly fled on foot and jumped off the side of the elevated freeway, into a nearby swamp.Deputies from St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office were called in to help the search - and soon spotted Rivas in the swamp. He was then attacked by the gator, with footage showing him being mauled by the predator in its murky waters. Footage shared on social media by the sheriff's office showed Rivas being attacked by the animal The 40-year-old, seen here, was taken to Nelson Coleman Correctional Center and booked on operating a vehicle while impaired and resisting an officer after being apprehended According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, Rivas suffered injuries to both of his arms after being attacked. Despite the attack, the determined Rivas continued to go on the lam and ran from officers again. He was eventually tracked down by a drone team and taken into custody as he left the swamp. The sheriff's office shared the footage of the attack to their Facebook post alongside an AI generated image of an alligator, named Al E. Gator, in a police uniform being given a 'deputy of the year award' by Sheriff Greg Champagne.A statement said: 'The alligator was not injured and has since returned to its regular patrol of the swamp.'Reminder: Don't drive impaired, don't run from deputies, and definitely don't hide in Louisiana swamps. Wildlife may just be cooperating with law enforcement.'According to the department Rivas was taken to hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Al E. Gator is seen here being handed a 'deputy of the year award' by Sheriff Greg Champagne in an AI-generated image shared by his office Despite the attack, the determined Rivas continued to go on the lam and ran from officers again A statement from the sheriff's office said the alligator was not injured and has since 'returned to its regular patrol of the swamp'After being released he was taken to Nelson Coleman Correctional Center and booked on operating a vehicle while impaired and resisting an officer. Jail records indicate that Rivas is being held on a $17,500 bond. Legal counsel information was not immediately available for him. Louisiana is home to one of the largest populations of alligators in the world with over three million in the state, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said.
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DWI suspect flees sheriff into swamp only to be attacked by ALLIGATOR who has now been given 'award'
