Darrell M. Jones of Riviera Beach arrested, kept alligators in his pool, police say

RIVIERA BEACH — Police arrested a Riviera Beach man Saturday after he allegedly threw two "small, live" alligators into the family pool.

As of this morning, 27-year-old Darrell M. Jones was being held at the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Jones was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, battery on a police officer, possession of an American alligator and threatening a public servant.

He was arrested at his Riviera Beach home around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, shortly after Riviera Beach Police officers arrived to look into reports that he had thrown an alligator inside a pool.

But when officers arrived, they first met with Jones' brother, whose name is withheld in the report. The brother, who had a cut to his forehead, told the officers that Jones had charged at him with a knife after he called police to report of the alligators in the pool, the affidavit says.

The man said that he feared for the safety of his nephews and immediately called police when Jones threw the gators in the pool.

Meanwhile, Jones was taken to Columbia Hospital for medical treatment. There, he continually threatened one of the officers and told the officer that "he better wear his bullet-proof vest because when gets out of jail he was going to put one in him," the affidavit says.

At some point, Jones punched the officer on his right shoulder, according to the affidavit.

Jones was treated and cleared from the hospital. While he was being taken to jail, he continued to threaten the officer, the affidavit stated.

The affidavit does not give any details on the status of the alligators or how they were removed from the property.