LAKE CITY, FL – A Florida man made headlines this week after attempting to trade a live alligator for a case of beer at a local convenience store.

According to the Lake City Police Department, 47-year-old Randy Jenkins strolled into a Stop-N-Go late Thursday night carrying a three-foot alligator under his arm like a football. Witnesses say he approached the cashier, slapped the reptile on the counter, and asked, “How many Bud Lights will this get me?”

At first, cashier Maria Lopez thought he was joking. “I figured it was some weird Florida prank,” she told reporters. “But then the gator moved. I screamed, and he just said, ‘Relax, it’s friendly!’”

Store security footage shows Jenkins trying to negotiate with Lopez, insisting the alligator was “basically Florida currency.” When she refused, he allegedly muttered, “Man, tough economy,” and walked toward the refrigerated beer section—still cradling the reptile.

Police were called when Jenkins attempted to leave the store with a 12-pack, claiming he had a “verbal agreement” with the alligator that it would cover his tab.

Authorities arrived within minutes and found Jenkins in the parking lot, sitting on a curb, drinking a beer (which he hadn’t paid for) while the alligator, now on the ground, made what officers described as “an attempted escape.”

“We see a lot of strange things here,” said Officer Brad Wilkins. “But this is the first time someone’s tried to barter with live wildlife. Even for Florida, this is a new one.”

Jenkins was arrested on charges of theft and illegal possession of an alligator. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) took custody of the alligator, which was unharmed and later released into a nearby swamp—presumably to share its misadventure with the local gator community.

When asked where he got the alligator, Jenkins reportedly told police, “Found it behind my cousin’s trailer. It was just sitting there, doing nothing.”

Despite his legal troubles, Jenkins remains convinced he had a solid deal. “I figured it was worth at least a 24-pack,” he told reporters while being led into the police car. “Times are tough, man. You gotta get creative.”

Jenkins is currently being held at the county jail on a $5,000 bond. Meanwhile, Stop-N-Go management has posted a new sign on the front door: “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Live Alligators.