Logo

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Police say a man accused of throwing an iguana at a manager in an Ohio restaurant has been arrested on charges including animal cruelty.

Painesville police say they were called to a Perkins restaurant around noon Tuesday on a report that an unruly customer pulled an iguana from under his shirt, swung it around and threw it at the manager before fleeing.

Police say they apprehended the suspect a few blocks from the restaurant in the city roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Cleveland. They say the 49-year-old also was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Authorities didn’t provide any information on a possible motive.

Police say the lizard they named “Copper” was taken to the Lake County Humane Society to be checked by a veterinarian.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy