Alligator Discovered Under Parked Car in Detroit Suburb

Authorities responded to a Detroit suburb after a 4-foot alligator was found hiding beneath a resident's vehicle.

Marysoul Mousa-Aqrawi was about to leave for work when neighbors informed her of the situation happening in her Sterling Heights driveway.

"Everyone was saying, 'there's an alligator under your car!' I was like, 'are you serious?' Then I looked, and there he was, laying underneath," Mousa-Aqrawi shared with WXYZ-TV.

The Sterling Heights Police Department arrived promptly and called for help from The Reptarium, a zoo located in Utica.

Zookeepers safely captured the alligator and brought it back to their facility for proper care.

Authorities suspect the alligator was an illegal pet that either escaped or was released by its owner.

The Sterling Heights Police Department issued a reminder about the risks of owning exotic animals like alligators. "While it may seem appealing to own exotic pets, it's still very dangerous," said a department spokesperson to The Detroit News. "Additionally, it's against city ordinance to possess one."

In Sterling Heights, keeping dangerous exotic pets is considered a misdemeanor and could result in fines up to $500.