Possession of wild and prohibited animals
Plano, TX (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007
County: Collin
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Bobby Denton Crawford, Jr.
Illegal wildlife including six adult Piranha, a Rhesus Macaque Monkey, an American alligator and a Chilean Rose-haired tarantula were confiscated on Feb 21 evening by Plano Animal Services from a home in Plano located at 3486 Chelsea Lane, according to reports from the Plano Police Department, Plano Animal Services and a search warrant affidavit.
The homeowner, Bobby Denton Crawford Jr., 42, of Plano has been charged with two class C misdemeanors in connection with possession of the animals, according to police. Both citations carry a fine of up to $500.
"Animal control did issue two citations for possessing wild and prohibited animals," said Officer Rick McDonald, a spokesperson for the police department. "The police department filed an offense report and an investigation is under way with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to see what other charges will be filed."
The American Alligator that was captured by animal services on Oct. 30 in Plano in the creek which runs near the intersection of Avenue K and Westminster was also owned by Crawford, according to Tammy Welch, office manager at the Living Materials Center.
The Living Materials Center in the Holifield Science Learning Center, is an educational science resource center for PISD where wildlife evidence is often kept by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Welch said there is allegedly another American alligator which Crawford owned besides the two he owned that the center now has in custody.
A short-barreled shotgun was seized from Crawford's home by officials Wednesday evening. Police declined to comment as to whether he would be charged in connection with the weapon.
Crawford told police on Feb. 7 - while police were conducting an investigation into a hit-and-run accident Crawford had allegedly been involved in - that he had been raising the Rhesus Macaque Monkey for eight years. He also openly admitted that the six fish in his 50 gallon aquarium were all adult Piranha.
According to an affidavit, the officer investigating Crawford's residence wrote, "I noticed that the Piranha fish about the size of my hand had (a) shiny speckled look, a protruding lower jaw and visible teeth. Mr. Crawford further explained to me some of the eating habits and behaviors of the Piranha fish."
Crawford explained to police that he had purchased the six fish from an internet web site which was not named in the affidavit. References |
