Deputies: Fleeing Suspect Bitten by Alligator

A 20-year-old man fleeing authorities following a traffic stop was able to get away from the deputies chasing him, but not from an alligator.

Bryan Zuniga, who was pulled over by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office at 2:47 a.m. May 9 for failing to maintain a single lane, later showed up at a local hospital with multiple puncture wounds to his face, arm and armpit area, telling authorities an alligator attacked him near a water treatment plant in unincorporated St. Petersburg.

According to authorities, as they attempted to stop Zuniga, he jumped out of the passenger side door and fled from the scene near the 7100 block of 78th Avenue North.

Zuniga, according to the sheriff's report, then broke a vinyl fence by kicking the fence line to make a hole for him to escape.

He was found a few hours later at the hospital, saying he had been attacked by the gator. 

Deputies said Zuniga, of Pinellas Park, was released from the hospital and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.

He has been charged with breaking or injuring fences, fleeing and eluding a police officer, driving while license suspended/revoked and resisting an officer without violence.

Zuniga was previously arrested on Feb. 15 and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell. He was also charged with tampering with physical evidence, possession of marijuana and carrying a concealed weapon in February 2011. 

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