NAPLES DAILY NEWS (Florida) 31 October 08 Police arrest suspect in death of UM campus crocodile

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for killing a state-endangered and federally threatened American crocodile on the University of Miami campus, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and UM Police announced Friday.

The arrest came as a result of several anonymous tips and weeks of investigation. Other arrests in connection with this case may be forthcoming, according to an FWC news release.

Campus police were notified of, and found, the crocodile carcass in a campus canal Oct. 1. It apparently had been killed the previous night. The campus police notified the FWC, and they worked together to solve the crime.

Students and faculty at the university were concerned over the death of the 9-foot to 10-foot crocodile and several organizations contributed to an $8,500 reward for information leading to the arrest, or arrests. CompUSA contributed $5,000 to the reward, the Humane Society of the United States contributed $2,500 and Miami-Dade Crimestoppers contributed $1,000.

“It is really disturbing that this person and his friends could come onto our campus and viciously kill this crocodile, which presented a threat to no one,” said Chief David Rivero of the University of Miami Police Department. “We were concerned, and we are appreciative that so many people came together to provide rewards, information and assistance, especially the FWC, Department of the Interior, Coral Gables Police Department, the State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade Police Department.”

The suspect, John Michael Herndon, told investigators where to find the head of the crocodile, and the Miami-Dade Police Department dive team retrieved it from a lake near the campus.

University police charged Herndon with killing an endangered or threatened species, felony cruelty to animals, trespass on school property, possession of burglary tools, grand theft (the value of the crocodile), contributing to the delinquency of a minor, unlawful possession of communication devices in the commission of a crime, criminal solicitation and criminal conspiracy.

"Intentionally killing a crocodile is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or, a $5,000 fine. Killing a protected species is no joke,” said FWC investigator Lt. Pat Reynolds. “We do not have all the facts yet, but, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is assisting us in analyzing evidence which connects the death of a crocodile positively to this individual. Information we have received is also being confirmed."

American crocodiles live in South Florida and occur nowhere else in the United States. In 1975, there were fewer than 300 crocodiles in Florida, and they were listed as an endangered species. Today, the FWC estimates 1,400 to 2,000 crocodiles live in southern Florida. They are typically shy and reclusive.

Anyone with information on wildlife law violations are asked to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. Callers can remain anonymous.
Police arrest suspect in death of UM campus crocodile

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