Blakely said. "T.D. has been in jail for all kinds of charges, but this is the first time for having a cobra, that I know of."
It's a Major Award.
Posted on 06/16/2005 8:09:38 AM PDT by quack
ATHENS — "I know the son of a gun's poisonous, and he's not from around here," Sheriff Mike Blakely said Wednesday about his latest prisoner.
Athens animal control officer Lt. Ron Ultz grabs hold of a cobra that Limestone and state wildlife officials confiscated from an Athens home. Possession of non-indigenous poisonous snakes is illegal because of anti-venom unavailability. Blakely's officers and wildlife officials confiscated a 4- to 5-foot-long water cobra from an Athens man's home. Possessing a poisonous snake that is not native to Alabama is a misdemeanor.
Blakely said someone called the sheriff's office about a resident on Nuclear Plant Road having the snake. Officers served a search warrant Wednesday afternoon and found three rattlesnakes, more than 20 boa constrictors and the rear fanged water cobra, investigator Randy King said.
Capt. Johnny Johnson with Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries said his office has charged Turner Davis "T.D." Roberts, 61, with possession of a non-indigenous venomous reptile. Johnson said water cobras are native to Asia and parts of Africa.
"They spread out at the head when they're mad, but they are not related to the cobras most people think about," Johnson said.
When Athens police animal control officer Lt. Ron Ultz coaxed the water cobra out of its wooden box in the Sheriff's Department parking lot, the snake did expand its head.
It did not strike at the grips Ultz used.
Johnson said Roberts kept the water cobra in a wooden box inside a glass aquarium. His other snakes also were in aquariums. It is not illegal for Roberts to have the rattlesnakes and boa constrictors.
"He says he just likes snakes," Johnson said.
Three years ago, Alabama made it illegal to own non-native venomous snakes because it is a public safety risk, Johnson said. Roberts bought the water cobra 11 years ago from a Cullman man, Johnson said.
"I don't know that we have any anti-venom for a cobra bite anywhere in the state," Johnson said. "You could die within hours of getting bit without it."
Sgt. Travis Gray, the wildlife officer assigned to Limestone County, said the department called Roberts about the new law three years ago.
"We told him to get rid of it (the cobra)," Gray said.
Blakely said Roberts is infamous in Limestone County.
"T.D. is known as 'Snake Man' and for doing things like making a lamp out of his wife's amputated leg," Blakely said. "T.D. has been in jail for all kinds of charges, but this is the first time for having a cobra, that I know of."
According to Sheriff's Department records, Limestone has arrested Roberts in the past for drug trafficking and assault.
ohnson said Roberts won't face jail time for having the water cobra. He said the maximum fine he will face is $500. His court date will be Aug. 5.
Johnson said the department will either euthanize the water cobra or see if a zoo permitted to have such snakes will take it.
The jokes write themselves.
This guy has a wild streak, huh?
Fragile',huh,must be Italian.
I'll say.
The best line out of the whole movie *LOL*
It's a Major Award.
That's all I can think of is the "leg lamp" from the movie.My next question is,how does one go about getting the amputated leg of your wife?Do hospitals have "leggy bags" to take home?
LOL!
stay away from the chili at the pot-luck
Never mind the cobra.
You have to wonder:
1) At what point did he decide that his wife's severed limb would make a dandy source of illumination?
2) Just how did he convince his wife to let him make such a lamp?
LOL!
Why do they call him Snake Man again?
That's pretty creepy.
Nuclear Plant Road? That's got to be an unfortunate road name.
Yeah,especially when you're ordering something by phone.lol!
Bizarre.
Ya know,at this point,the snakes aren't my biggest concern.Now,when I drive by and see the "lights" on,I'm always gonna wonder.......Is it the "leg lamp".
Is that one of those Italian "Fragile" lamps? (Pronounced Frageelay)
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