LANCASTER NEW ERA (Pennsylvania) 12 August 08 A skateboard, a snake, an arrest (Janet Kelley)
A Manheim man apparently led less than a charmed life when he decided to take his pet snake for a skateboard ride Sunday and fell — right in front of a police cruiser.
Richard Couyou, 24, of 59 S. Charlotte St., was intoxicated, Manheim Police said, which probably contributed to his fall as he rode along West Ferdinand Street near Veterans Alley around 1 a.m.
The police officer stopped in time to see Couyou fall in front of his cruiser.
The officer said Couyou complained of pain as he and his pet python were lying on the road.
Couyou and his snake were taken home, police said. Couyou was cited for public drunkenness.
Police, who said Couyou often takes his snake outside with him, had no information about the size of the snake and whether it was injured in the fall.
According to newspaper reports, Couyou was convicted of drunken driving earlier this year.
A skateboard, a snake, an arrest