A truck driver was arrested late last month after police discovered a collection of wild animals at his home in Florida, including two deer he transported in the cab of his truck.
30-year-old trucker, Ariam Rodriguez Diaz was arrested at his home in Naples, Florida on July 22nd after receiving a call reporting an individual in possession of two live white tail deer, reported Naples Daily News.
When police responded to the call, Diaz showed the officers around his property at the 2800 block of 38th Avenue South. During the tour, officers observed several different types of migratory birds in bird cages, eight Canada geese, and two white tailed deer. During the tour, Diaz asked officers if he was keeping the deer illegally, and officers asked if he had any type of permit for them, which he did not have.
Diaz then explained to officers that he had gotten the deer at a rest stop in Ohio. He explained that he was doing a pre-check of his truck one morning when he noticed the two fawns, coaxed them into his cab, and took them back to his home in Florida. He says the two young deer stayed in his sleeper with him for the duration of the trip.
Diaz was arrested on 20 illegal wildlife possession counts and was held on $21,000 bond. He was bonded out on July 24th and is due in court on August 17th.