Fairfax County Police Department reported Monday, June 16, that an alligator was loose outside a local motel shortly after midnight, according to an officer's bodyworn camera footage released on social media. The officer can be heard saying, “Damn, that is an alligator. … There is actually an alligator outside of the hotel.” Asked by dispatch, “How big is it?” the officer responds, “If I lay down next to it, it’s approximately six feet.”

The incident occurred at the Budget Host Alexandria motel on Richmond Highway after a caller reported seeing the reptile outside their room. Reportedly, its owner was transporting the gator to a zoo in North Carolina. The outcome proved happy for all. Due to Virginia law prohibiting the possession of exotic animals, the alligator and its owner were escorted out of Fairfax County by police.