Reptile Shop Owner Allegedly Hit Workers With Lizard

[Onthemark]

A Florida reptile store owner who was arrested in 2012 for an insect eating contest at his business has been arrested after he allegedly smacked employees with a bearded dragon lizard and even sticking it in his mouth during an attack, police said.

40-year-old Benjamin Herman Siegel, owner of Siegel Reptiles, is now facing several charges, including battery and cruelty to animals after the incident, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

According to Broward Sheriff’s police report, the video surveillance shows Siegel assaulting employees with a bearded dragon lizard. It then shows Siegel putting it in his mouth. The suspect is also seen throwing the lizard in the air and swinging it around several times. Officials also saw Siegel throwing Gatorade on his employees at his store.

“The defendant did unnecessarily torment the animal, handling the animal in a cruel and/or inhumane manner and intentionally committed an act to the animal which results in excessive and repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering to the animal,†police said.

His reptile store, along West Hillsboro Boulevard, made national headlines in 2012 when a man died after consuming dozens of insects in a live roach-eating contest at the shop. The grand prize was a ball python.

[video=youtube_share;ag2OO94WKh8]http://youtu.be/ag2OO94WKh8[/video]

 

[missbishi]

He deserves to have the book thrown at him. There is no way he should be allowed to continue trading after this. He clearly has no respect for the livestock he sells, or indeed his employees.

 

[Onionman]

It would almost be funny if it wasn't so bad on the animals themselves. How can you torment an animal like that and expect to get away with it? Some people really don't know how to manage themselves and their anger.

 

[Muthoni]

This man must be under the influence of a very strong substance. A normal person does not behave this way. There are some weird things in this world that reading a story like this one makes me feel very normal. I hope that this man does not get another chance to be close to animals because he does not respect them.

 

[Peninha]

What a crazy crime, so he hits the workers with a lizard? Talk about an aggressive work environment!

 

[Sweetheart]

Reptile abuse, ok. Bug eating contests for a snake. Hello, they said their was cocaine charge from christmas. Well cocaine makes people do things they wouldn't normally do this is a fact. A personality will do a 360 on this garbage. Coaxing people into eating cockroaches I think might be an indication that there is a problem with mental stability. This guy by the time he gets to the judge he is denying what he does. He probably can't believe he does these things either.

 

[warmweatherwoman]

Ok so a man DIES after a live roach eating contest and he was allowed to remain in business? I hope this time for the sake of the animals and the employees his business if finally shut down!