VAUGHAN TODAY (Ontario) 10 July 08 Officials seize big snake, rifles in Concord (Tom Stoukas)
A six-foot long python is settling into its new home after a bizarre stroll through Concord Saturday night.
Police seized the creature after receiving reports of a man carrying a huge snake and a rifle near Spyglass Hill Rd. in the Glen Shields neighbourhood.
When officers arrived on scene, they found the man walking with the snake around his neck and the rifle on the ground nearby, police say.
Officials from Reptilia, the reptile zoo and store at 2501 Rutherford Rd., were brought in to deal with the massive snake.
The python was taken into custody without incident, according to Josh Feltham, Reptilia’s general manager.
“It was pretty worked up,” Feltham said. “The police had surrounded the poor beast and made it feel like it was about to die because it was surrounded by these big people.”
While pythons are prohibited as pets in the GTA, Feltham said, they can be purchased at unscrupulous pet stores or over the Internet.
“We get calls every once in a while for situations like these,” Feltham said. “Unfortunately, these pythons are available relatively easily in the GTA.”
The apprehended python will likely be used for educational purposes at Reptilia.
The man found with the snake was also taken into custody and charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Witnesses told police they had seen the man walking with the rifle pointed at the ground.
A second rifle was found at the man’s home.
The firing pins had been removed on both guns so they couldn’t be fired, York Regional Police Constable Marina Orlovski said.
Police would not speculate as to why the man was walking around with a rifle and a python.
Sean Griffin, 43, of Vaughan is set to appear in court Aug. 20.
Officials seize big snake, rifles in Concord