Gator in the Drain, Suspect on the Run: Busy Night for Alachua PD

Staff Report

ALACHUA – Officers with the Alachua Police Department (APD) responded to two dramatically different calls for service on the evening of July 22, 2025 — assisting with the removal of an alligator from a storm drain and later arresting a burglary suspect hiding near a pond behind a local car dealership.

The evening began when APD was called to assist a licensed trapper with the safe capture of an alligator discovered in a storm drain.

While still on scene of the alligator call, at approximately 8:51 p.m., officers were dispatched to a reported vehicle burglary in progress at the Highway 700 Car Dealership, located along Northwest U.S. Highway 441.

Upon arrival, officers quickly located a man matching the suspect description hiding behind the business near a pond. With the assistance of APD Canine Officer Joker, the suspect was detained without incident.

An investigation revealed that the suspect had unlawfully entered a vehicle on the lot and attempted to start it. Additional surveillance video from a nearby business also captured the same individual tampering with equipment on that property.

The suspect, identified as DJeff Chery, age 42, was arrested and charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, unarmed, and loitering or prowling. He was issued trespass warnings for both properties and transported to the Alachua County Jail. His bond was set at $25,000.

The Alachua Police Department emphasized the unpredictable nature of law enforcement work and praised its officers’ flexibility and professionalism.

“Whether it’s removing an unexpected reptile or tracking down a suspect, our officers are always ready,” the department stated.

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