Texas Man Arrested Over the Weekend for Setting a Cobra Loose

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In August of last year, the North Texas town of Grand Prairie was on high alert. Authorities reported that venomous King Cobra was on the loose. Although the potentially deadly reptile was never found, authorities have arrested the person they believe is responsible for freeing this menace.

Grand Prairie, Texas Police Turned to Facebook to Warn Residents About This Cobra

Officials with the Grand Prairie Police Department turned to social media in order to warn the general public of this slithering danger that could be lurking around their homes. Unfortunately, the highly-venomous cobra has not been seen sense gaining its freedom.

Lawrence Matl - Via GPPD

The Owner of the Escaped Cobra Told Texas Police There Was a Problem With the Cage

According to a report from KSAT, 23-year-old Lawrence Matl was the legal owner of the West African Banded Cobra snake in question - he even had a permit issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Back on August 3rd of 2021, Matl told authorities that his cobra had escaped due to a “caging malfunction.” Apparently, that was not a good enough excuse to keep the Grand Prairie, Texas man out of trouble.

Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

Grand Prairie, Texas Police Arrested Lawrence Matl for Releasing His Cobra

On Sunday, February 13th, Grand Prairie Police obtained a warrant and arrested Lawrence Matl and have charged him with a misdemeanor for the "illegal discharge of a certain type of snake." The report from the Dallas Observer says that he is currently sitting in a detention center on a $10,000 bond. If convicted, Matl is facing up to a year in the slammer and a $4,000 fine.

These 34 Texas 'Most Wanted' Criminals Were Captured in 2021

Texas law enforcement officials put in one heck of a year in 2021! Thanks to the tireless efforts of state, local, national, and even international agencies, the Lone Star State broke the record of arresting 32 of the most "Most Wanted" fugitives in the state back in 2013. After the dust settled, these 34 wanted crooks were behind bars.

Can You Help Solve Any of These 24 East Texas Cold Cases?

Crime is a terrible thing. Luckily, we've got a dedicated group of police officers and investigators that work around to the clock to bring those responsible for breaking the law to justice. Unfortunately, not every case is closed. Authorities in East Texas are hoping that someone might have a key piece of information that could help them crack these 24 cold cases wide open. If you know anything, please reach out to the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000, or Tyler Smith County Crime-Stoppers at 903-597-2833.

Have You Seen Any of These 44 Missing East Texas People?

Losing someone is hard, but when they go missing without a trace - it's even harder. The family and friends of these 44 people are desperate for any information that could bring their loved ones home or at least give them some closure. If you have any information at all that could lead authorities to their whereabouts, please contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse by calling (800) 346-3243

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