A bizarre incident, at a Florida convenience store, has shown just how desperate some people are for alcohol. Fernando Caignet Aguilera, 64, was seen, in a video surveillance image, trying to swap a four-foot alligator for a 12-pack of beer at the Santa Ana Market last week.

Apparently, Aguilera snatched the alligator at a nearby park, and then drove the alligator to Santa Ana Market in hopes of obtaining a 12-pack of beer. When he approached the counter with the alligator, instead of making the swap, the clerk called the Miami police. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino, there has never been a call of this nature in South Florida. He said that he had never, in his 25 years of service, heard on anyone capturing an alligator in exchange for anything. Pino called the incident an “extremely unusual situation, and a sad situation for the alligator.”

While the alligator has been released back into the wild, Aguilera has been charged with taking possession and selling an alligator, which is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor. If convicted he could face up to six months in jail and a fine of $500.

So a guy tried to trade a four foot alligator for beer at a convenience store near Miami. Only in FL. pic.twitter.com/skLGjT1B0D

— David Hughes (@tvproducerdave) December 17, 2013

Watch the surveillance video below:

Image via Wikimedia Commons