Bluffton man attacked officer who asked him to ‘leave the gators alone,’ cops say
A man from the Bluffton area was arrested last month for allegedly assaulting and threatening a wildlife officer who ordered him to “leave the gators alone” near his residence.
Shane Lucas Smith, 51, was charged Aug. 23 with resisting arrest, threatening the life of a public official and third-degree assault and battery, jail records show.
It happened around 7 p.m. that night when an officer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources approached Smith, who had reportedly been “disturbing an alligator” in a lagoon near his home off South Innovation Drive.
The man reportedly became “confrontational” as he yelled and then pushed the officer. The officer unclicked his firearm holster but did not draw the gun, which led to Smith threatening to take the weapon and kill him with it, according to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Smith returned home as the officer waited for backup. The officer then told deputies he wished to pursue charges against the suspect for misdemeanor assault.
The scene turned hectic when the DNR officer, along with six other deputies, knocked on Smith’s door to make an arrest. He “tensed up” and pulled his arms away from police as they attempted to detain him, the report says. One deputy attempted to use “compliance knee strikes” to Smith’s leg, threatening to tase the suspect if he continued to resist.
Police then tased Smith in his left leg and torso, the report says, and he was successfully arrested. The man was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital for medical clearance before being booked at the county jail later that night.
Smith was released from jail the following afternoon on personal recognizance bonds totaling $55,000, meaning he would not have to pay the amount unless he violated court conditions.
The incident was one of many involving friction between alligators and residents in Beaufort County, which have increased in number as development encroaches on the reptiles’ environment.
Officials have reported eight alligator attacks in Beaufort County since 2018, three of which were fatal. Most involved residents walking small dogs or doing yard work near a lagoon.
Here’s a list of SCDNR recommendations for alligator encounters:
- Don’t feed alligators. Providing food for these wild animals makes them bolder and encourages them to seek out people.
- Keep your distance. Although they may look slow and awkward, alligators are extremely powerful and can move with a startling burst of speed on land over short distances.
- Do not attempt to move alligators out of the road. If you see an alligator on the move, leave it alone and let it pass on through. Alligators move the most in spring and summer when they are breeding.
- It is illegal to harass or throw things at alligators. They are living organisms that warrant respect and it is not productive to annoy them.
- Never disturb nests or small alligators. Some female alligators protect their young and may become aggressive if provoked.
- Do not attempt to keep alligators as pets. Keeping a baby alligator as a pet is a foolish idea, not to mention illegal in some states.
- Keep your pets and children away from alligators. Large alligators do not recognize the difference between domestic pets and wild food sources.
- It is best to avoid swimming in areas that are known habitats for large alligators but at the least, never swim alone.
- Do not corner alligators if participating in recreational activities, such as skiing, canoeing, kayaking, or even taking photographs.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM.
