Residents and police in downtown Jeffersonville encountered an unexpected visitor early Sunday morning. Dispatchers received reports of a traffic hazard around 2 a.m. on Court Avenue, where they discovered a 4.5-foot juvenile alligator wandering in the street.
The reptile eventually made its way to the front windows of a local law office. Capt. Samuel Moss of the Jeffersonville Police Department stated that while his team handles various incidents, a live alligator in the downtown area was a first for the department.
Police coordinated with Scaletuary, a reptile sanctuary based in Scottsburg, to safely capture the animal. After securing the alligator, officers on the scene took photos with the visitor, which later surprised locals and employees working in the area.
Authorities successfully identified the owner, who reported the animal had escaped from its enclosure. The alligator is 12 years old but remains significantly smaller than typical for its age. Indiana law permits the ownership of alligators under 5 feet in length.
This incident follows a previous report of an abandoned alligator in a Clarksville apartment in 2025. Following a veterinary examination, officials expect the alligator will be returned to its owner.