'Mr. Teeth' guards 34 pounds of pot
California man arrested for marijuana possession; used exotic pet to watch over stash
Police who entered a man's house for a probation check found a $100, 000 stash of marijuana guarded by a five-foot-long alligator.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that when Alameda County deputies entered the home of Assif Mayr Wednesday afternoon for a probation check, they found 34 pounds of marijuana and the alligator in a tank in the bedroom.
Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson says the alligator was likely used as deterrent against marijuana thieves.
Nelson said Mayr bought the alligator—known as Mr. Teeth—in 1996 to "commemorate the death to rapper Tupac Shakur."
Oakland Zoo officials said Thursday that the 5-foot-long caiman died Wednesday, a day after it was seized by Alameda County Sheriff's during a probation check at a home in Castro Valley.
Zoo officials say that the caiman arrived at the zoo critically ill and non-responsive.
Nelson says Mayr was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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