Posted on 06/04/2021 4:56:07 AM PDT by billorites
A Florida man who is accused of beating an iguana to death asked a judge to dismiss animal cruelty charges on the basis of the state’s “stand your ground” law. The judge said no.
PJ Nilaja Patterson was arrested after allegedly dragging, kicking and beating a 3-foot iguana in Lake Worth, Florida on Sept. 2, according to court records. The animal died as Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control was transporting it to be euthanized, the affidavit states.
Patterson’s attorneys Frank Vasconcelos and Carey Haughwout said their client was engaging in self-defense after trying to save the iguana from a busy street. According to the motion, the animal subsequently became agitated by a crowd and bit Patterson’s right arm when he tried to move it. It says he then “kicked the iguana as far as he could.” Patterson had to get 22 staples in his arm because of the bite, according to the motion.
“In this case, Patterson acted in a reasonable manner under all the circumstances because the wild iguana was first to engage with physical violence, during the encounter,” his attorneys wrote.
Florida’s stand your ground law states deadly force can be used if a person “reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.” Patterson’s attorneys argued that he had the right to defend himself since the iguana became aggressive first.
They also wrote that Patterson believed the iguana “could have injected poison” into him, CNN reported.
“Thus he rushed to incapacitate the iguana the best way he could in order to preserve its antidote,” they wrote.
Vasconcelos maintains his client’s innocence, and in an email to CNN, said they will “fight this case until the very end.” He also added that the iguana bite left his client with “permanent marks.”
Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Dorman wrote in response to the motion to dismiss that the entire episode was captured in a 32-minute surveillance video, CNN reported.
She wrote that the video shows how Patterson tormented the iguana, which “was not bothering anyone and did not pose a threat to anyone.” She said there was no provocation or no justification for the actions and that his behavior was unjustifiable.
During a necropsy, Dr. Virginia Sayre of Animal Control found that the iguana had a lacerated liver, fractured pelvis, blood in its mouth, blood in its abdomen and a lacerated tongue. She also said the lizard’s injuries were “painful and terrifying.”
“The Defendant unnecessarily put himself in a position to be bit by this animal,” Dorman wrote. “The State’s position is that Stand Your Ground does not even apply to this case because the iguana is not a human being.”
Patterson is due back in court in late July. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison for animal cruelty.
“I read about men who shoot iguanas for a living to collect the bounty paid on surrender of the dead carcass.
The shooting is accomplished with a pellet rifle”
Oh, so they don’t kick and stomp them to death...do they? If there is a bounty on Iguanas and shooting them is legal then fine, except that is not what this story is about...is it? It’s about unwarranted and unnecessary abuse.
If you are ok with abuse of any kind then it says far more about you then it does about me.
Dorman wrote. “The State’s position is that Stand Your Ground does not even apply to this case because the iguana is not a human being.”
Least weird “Florida man” story I have seen in awhile.
This ^^^^
“A wild animal stuck on a highway is in danger. The animal might not understand that. As such, someone who comes to his aid might get bit. But the animal was an imposition in the first place. It didn’t belong on the highway and would have died very shortly if left to its own devices. So if it bites its would-be savior, justifiably, its life is forfeit. What if a scorpion or a rattler feels provoked.”
My whole point is that removing the animal would have been appropriate and easily accomplished since a 36 inch Iguana is rather small since half of that length was made up of its tail. There was no need to kick it and stomp on it as this jerk did.
The lizard bit attacked him. They are also invasive pests. He no more abused a lizard kicking it then someone would if they kicked a dog that bit.
But according to this article Florida has an iquana problem and the state encourages homeowners to kill them.
NPR: Florida encourages homeowners to kill iquanas
So what's the deal?
Geez, what the hell is it with you people who defend cruelty like this? I don’t give a rats ass if they are invasive or not. They can be removed or even euthanized humanely but there is NEVER a reason to abuse any living thing unless you are a sick twisted individual who gets their jollies over this sort of thing.
The Iguana did not instigate this event and it was a very small animal to boot weighing no more than 6-8 pounds at most. Throw a towel over it, pick it up and move it to another location or else euthanize it if necessary. Animal abuse is the work of a sick, sick mind.
Geez, what the hell is it with you people who defend cruelty like this? I don’t give a rats ass if they are invasive or not. They can be removed or even euthanized humanely but there is NEVER a reason to abuse any living thing unless you are a sick twisted individual who gets their jollies over this sort of thing.
The Iguana did not instigate this event and it was a very small animal to boot weighing no more than 6-8 pounds at most. Throw a towel over it, pick it up and move it to another location or else euthanize it if necessary. Animal abuse is the work of a sick, sick mind.
22 bite marks aren’t a small scratch
You’ve never lived in Florida, have you. A 36 inch iguana is huge, and its tail is a weapon on the other side of its teeth. They are bulky bastards. A rat who’s 36 inches long with the tail is not “rather small,” either. Ever seen how big a possum is? They aren’t “rather small,” either.
He was trying to remove the animal from the highway. It was not easily accomplished. If it was, he wouldn’t have gotten bit.
Chikdren these days kill each other. The more urban and woke the more so.
Truly as a kid I killed a lot of critters, some needlessly most for a reason, but after once failing to be swift,I decided to always be more sure to be swift.
Even today mouse traps are tuned to be swift and sure.
Whatever.
Humane is desired, except for unborn humans. Then they have no rights. Argue all you want.
Leftism is a mental disease and moral scourge.
Aren’t they invasive? Shouldn’t there be a bounty? Don’t they taste like chicken? Inquiring minds want to know!
I love the Iguanas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-J53zNsBGM
LOL, you call yourself “Manly Warrior” yet you are nothing but a whining twat not to mention a liar.
You make up out of thin air the supposition I care nothing about children lost thru abortion.
You ought not to post while suckin’ on the bong.
Tyepe: california lizard bites nose at google.
Then click on Images. Many photos.
Now if some 3 foot iguana bit me and I had to have stitches then that iguana will die.
Iguana tacos are a thing. They're known as "Chicken of the Tree."
Horse manure........ bleeding heart liberal verbal garbage
“Now if some 3 foot iguana bit me and I had to have stitches then that iguana will die.”
And if you were grabbing at or kicking the creature you would deserve to be bitten as you would if you were to stick your hand into a cage with a lion in it (back in the day when Lions were kept in cages) And even if you were trying to pet it in the mistaken belief it would respond to kindness from you with its own kindness you would deserve to be bitten or mauled as many have.
It’s simple, play with fire and your gonna get burned.
The animal in this case was provoked and it responded like wild animals usually do. But if kicking a helpless animal makes you feel like a tough guy then by all means go for it.
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