ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) – A pet crocodile has died and two brothers are facing charges after getting into a fight in Alaska that involved their respective exotic pets, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers say 33-year-old Tyler Lowe and 30-year-old Rickey Lowe were taken into custody Thursday and charged with animal cruelty and assault.
Following a bizarre encounter that turned violent – which troopers say stemmed from an argument regarding anime – Tyler Lowe allegedly tossed his younger brother’s pet alligator out of an apartment and into the snow, prompting Rickey Lowe to do the same to Tyler Lowe’s pet crocodile.
Troopers say Rickey Lowe called the police on his brother once Rickey Lowe and his 2-year-old child left the residence. Troopers allege that Rickey Lowe was driving while intoxicated.
Rickey Lowe’s alligator pulled through, but it appears Tyler Lowe’s crocodile did not.
Neighbors in the same apartment complex said they saw law enforcement arrive on the scene. Matt Strickland, a next-door neighbor, said multiple state troopers were present and searching for the missing reptiles.
“They go, ‘Have you seen an alligator run past here?’ And I go, ‘You guys are kidding, right?’” Strickland said, describing the interaction he had with law enforcement who knocked on his door. “He goes ‘No, I’m a state trooper, I wouldn’t kid about something like that.’”
Strickland said he didn’t see any of the exotic animals at any point in the night, and after living next door for a month, he never even knew they were there.
Troopers on the scene and Tyler Lowe searched together to look for the reptiles.
They located and rescued the alligator, but were unable to locate the crocodile and suspect it died from the cold exposure, AST wrote in a dispatch.
Rickey Lowe was also charged with DUI and child endangerment for allegedly driving away from the argument while under the influence with his son in the car.
Both men were arraigned Thursday afternoon.
