A Florida police officer went beyond the usual “serve and protect” duties this week—adding “deliver” to the motto when he stepped in to complete a pizza delivery after the original driver was too scared to approach a house with an 8-foot alligator blocking the driveway.
Gator vs. Pizza: A Wild Florida Delivery
The bizarre incident took place in Bradenton, a suburb of Sarasota, when local authorities were called about a massive alligator lurking under a parked car in a residential neighborhood.
Officer Tolson, who responded to the scene, immediately contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials to handle the reptile. But before they could arrive, another unexpected guest showed up—a pizza deliverywoman with an order for the house where the gator was waiting.
Delivery Driver Calls for Backup
The delivery driver stopped on the street and, after seeing the menacing gator, hesitated to approach the house. Officer Tolson suggested she could try delivering the pizza through the back entrance, but she was too terrified and instead asked him to do it.
Being a true public servant, Tolson agreed—taking on an unexpected role as a pizza delivery guy.
Customer Nearly Walks Into Danger
Meanwhile, inside the house, the woman who placed the pizza order had no idea what was happening outside. One of her neighbors called to warn her, telling her not to go out front—but before she could be stopped, she opened the door and nearly walked right into the alligator’s path.
Officer Tolson quickly yelled at her to get back inside, keeping her out of harm’s way. Eventually, he made it to the backdoor, where he handed off the pizza. When the woman asked him how much she owed, he admitted he had no clue—only then did she realize her delivery guy was actually a police officer!
One Last Favor
Before leaving, Tolson did one more good deed—snapping a picture of the massive gator for the woman inside. Soon after, wildlife trappers arrived, securing the reptile and bringing an end to the chaos.
Florida’s Wildest Pizza Night?
It’s safe to say this was probably one of the strangest days on duty for Officer Tolson—though, considering it’s Florida, stranger things have probably happened!
One thing’s for sure—next time you order pizza in Bradenton, you never know who might be delivering it! 🍕🐊
