Crime & Safety

Driver Had 10 Snakes, Several Lizards

Cherokee County authorities pulled over an Indiana man who said he caught the snakes in Florida.

State authorities say a man with numerous snakes and lizards in his car was arrested on his way to Indiana with the reptiles.

According to Georgia Department of Natural Resources Spokesman Rick Lavender,  Monday morning on I-75 pulled over 27-year-old Nicolas Angel Mesa of Lafayette, IN.

“Deputies contacted Georgia DNR after Mr. Mesa reportedly refused to consent to having his vehicle searched, saying he had snakes in the vehicle,” Lavender said. “We investigated. Mr. Mesa had 10 snakes and three different lizard species in the vehicle.

“The snakes were non-venomous. Species included corn, coachwhip, pine,
king and southern hognose snakes—all native to Georgia—plus a rosy
boa, a non-native snake.”

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Authorities say Mesa, who was transported by Bartow authorties to the  on a misdemeanor charge, said he caught the snakes in Florida and was taking them to Indiana.

He was charged with illegal possession of non-game wildlife without a permit.

“Georgia's non-venomous snakes are illegal to possess without a permit from DNR,” Lavender added.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also is investigating the incident, according to DNR Wildlife Resources Division Cpl. Lee Burns.

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