August 30, 2011
By Marsha Thompson, WLOX.com
WLBT News has learned that four people have been arrested for
illegally hunting and killing alligators out of season. They also face
charges of having alligator remains in their possession. Mississippi
Wildlife officials busted the men Saturday on the Pearl River in
Lawrence County.
The group includes Christian Collins, 23, from Wesson. Also taken
into custody was Michael Easterling, 21, of Wesson. Spencer Pell, 22, of
Crystal Springs was booked and charged with one count of unlawfulling
killing an alligator and one county of possession of an alligator. And
Johnny Dow, 19, of Crystal Springs was arrested with the group.
All four were released on a $2,000 dollar bond after being booked
into the Lawrence County jail. A state Wildlife official tells us the
men were spotted during a routine patrol by gaming officers and tried to
run. The men were stopped and officers noticed bloody shirts. The
remains of an alligator were in the back of their truck.
A home was also searched and items recovered along with the remains
of other alligators, according to Jim Walker with the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.
Alligator season starts in two weeks.
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