A young man trying to avoid Lakeland police lost his arm to an alligator in a lake Wednesday evening.
Police said 21-year-old Jessie Kinsinger had a disagreement with his mother and ran into a wooded area behind their apartment on Long Lake Circle. The mother told police Kinsinger was in need of psychological help ,and she worried he was having "an episode."
Blood hounds, a helicopter and multiple officers on the ground began searching for Kinsinger. Using witness reports to track his location as he ran, officers eventually located him from the sky lying on the ground by a nearby lake.
Officers said Kinsinger swam across the lake, and got out near a sign that read: "Caution! Alligators frequent this area!"
Kinsinger's brother-in-law, Mike Taylor, was one of the first to find him on the shore, bleeding profusely and in a lot of pain.
Kinsinger was missing three-quarters of his left arm. It is presumed an alligator bit it off.
There are no criminal charges pending at this time.
Kinsinger was receiving treatment at Lakeland Regional Medical Center as of Thursday afternoon.
FWC officials are now searching for an estimated nine to ten foot alligator. If they find it, the gator will be removed because it is a public safety hazard.
