![Lakeland police are investigating an alligator seen with a body in its mouth. [Sgt. Gary Gross, Lakeland Police Department]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//PyKMwahfsyTRiCj4w39manMP-4Q=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7LMHMCWGDUI6TCHRIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Lakeland police are investigating an alligator seen with a body in its mouth. [Sgt. Gary Gross, Lakeland Police Department]")
LAKELAND — A human body was found in an alligator's mouth Tuesday afternoon in Polk County, according to police.
It was unclear whether the alligator attacked the person or found the body in the water, said Lakeland police Sgt. Gary Gross.
Gross said during a Periscope broadcast it appeared the body was a male who had been in the lake for more than a day, but that it was too soon in the investigation to say for sure.
"We got a call from a citizen about an alligator that had a body in his mouth," Gross said. "Police officers arrived on the scene and confirmed the alligator did, in fact, have what appeared to be a body."
When police arrived at the scene at Lake Hunter Drive, the alligator released the body and officers were able to remove it from the water.
Just after 3:30 p.m. trappers were still trying to capture the alligator, according to Gross.
Police said the person's identity is unknown.
LIVE on #Periscope: Body pulled out of the lake in Lakeland - Police Investigation https://t.co/R5yPcm33zS— Sgt. Gary B Gross (@GaryBGross) June 7, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: Body pulled out of the lake in Lakeland - Police Investigation https://t.co/R5yPcm33zS
Contact Sara DiNatale at sdinatale@tampabay.com. Follow @sara_dinatale.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/09f7908f-f32a-4a5d-8ffa-d692a3d8d7be.JPG "Sara DiNatale - Former Times staffer")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Pa7EZPnN171XtfgiTe_jP6FR1Ws=/fit-in/1137x640/smart/filters:fill(000)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/LMEMY6OKBBEQ5FEZCVO7NSJQHA.jpg "Barbouni is a new tin fish and raw bar at Baba in St. Petersburg")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/Bk9LzWVq2OVqb4wv6ui8eGFK1JQ=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OR4TCE6AGZD67LLG7C4FXBSKJI.jpg "USF women rally in overtime vs. Marquette in first round of NCAA Tournament")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/TbWYchZdSX-87ppy38gJz1XKrEE=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FVEMJ37QVFFEXFIW3MZDYVQUXM.JPG "Time names Tampa on ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list. Here’s how people are reacting.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/NjzQPC5gUq68zMNOu2ihmU1yRMM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/L4JV6O2DYVDPFNVJZR5ZC6B7QI.JPG "Rays rotation candidates Yonny Chirinos, Luis Patino have different days")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/33VzHzx52nZvFwRp-mY43Kof_b8=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NT5C2VGI2USLGRXRXIXPKZ4OLE.jpg "Body of woman found in St. Petersburg, death investigation underway, police say")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/jstivzYfNqsuHsOr7MngaMZSbos=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VX5BTJHJQJFGNGWYOUZVS5E6RQ.jpg "Pasco’s Nick Gabrelcik makes himself at home in Valspar Championship field")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/05xfSHs78pOxt6PphykWIlSA5mU=/1200x675/filters:focal(1229x371:1239x361)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FYSGSLPX2VBMXLCOO2IPDOYISI.JPG "Florida health agency stops surgeries at the Bonati Spine Institute")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/whcW6xiXPItbHA3f1M4gvGQ6-b0=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CSSHPVG7FBDOBLCO2JG65IK5JU.jpg "Editorial Cartoons for Saturday and Sunday from Times Wire Services")
/www.tampabay.com/pf/resources/images/tampa-bay-times-alternate-image.png "Only three candidates can win the GOP nomination. DeSantis is one of them | Column")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/szr39MFUxsGUcvPXWLB170svWlk=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MB37DY5YQ443WIS34VDFWR4GAE.jpg "We want teachers to know that union membership is optional — and what it costs | Column")