Snake handler flees from police on Hollywood Walk of Fame and abandons his reptiles

A snake handler operating along the Hollywood Walk of Fame made a hasty exit when approached by police, leaving his exotic reptiles behind on the street, local authorities have confirmed.

LAPD shares the incident on social media

On 6 May, the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division shared details of the encounter on social media, describing how officers had come across an individual who was "parading exotic snakes around for tourist money" along the famous thoroughfare.

In a touch of humour, the Instagram post was accompanied by the song La culebra by Banda Machos — a title that translates aptly to "Watch out for that snake!"

A photograph included in the post showed the individual — dubbed "Snake Señor" by the department — outside the Hollywood Wax Museum with a large yellow and white boa constrictor draped around his body.

Handler flees, leaving snakes behind

According to the social media post, officers moved in to make contact with the individual, who promptly "slithered away on foot and left the reptiles behind."

Following his departure from the scene, officers were able to wrangle the abandoned exotic animals and safely transport them to Los Angeles Animal Control. LAAC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Further images shared by the department showed an unspecified number of snakes coiled together inside a large crate, secured in the back of a police vehicle.

Identity and legal status unclear

The LAPD did not publicly identify the snake handler, nor confirm whether he had been arrested or issued a citation for charging tourists to pose with the boa constrictors. The department has not yet responded to PEOPLE's enquiry.

Rounding off the post with characteristic wit, the department wrote via social media: "Looks like the only thing getting squeezed today was his escape plan."