It was an ordinary day for some, but for a rideshare driver and the responding Fifth Precinct Officers, it turned serpentine when they discovered a passenger of the reptilian kind. A report came in from a driver about an unexpected and surely unwelcome guest lounging in the backseat of his vehicle—a boa constrictor, which was found coiled up by the police. As noted in a Facebook post by the Fifth Precinct, this was no small find.
The encounter, fortunately, resulted in no injuries, although it could easily have become a fraught situation, given the potential threat that a free-roaming snake, especially one as powerful as a boa constrictor, might pose to the unsuspecting public. According to the same Facebook post, the officers showcased commendable bravery, managing to extract the boa safely and ensuring it was placed into the more appropriate confines of Animal Control, their inability to locate its owner not withstanding a surely thorough attempt.
The idiosyncrasies of urban life often include unexpected wildlife encounters, but a boa constrictor in a city environment suggests more than just an accidental tourist. While the origin of the snake remains a mystery, with the owner's identity still unconfirmed, the health and safety of all involved parties—human or ophidian—were preserved thanks to the responsive actions of the officers.
Though no further details have been disclosed at this time, the story of the boa constrictor's city ride and subsequent rescue by the Fifth Precinct Officers will likely slither on as an urban anecdote for some time to come.
