Sunset Beach Police Department personnel were arriving at the office Monday morning when one officer say a very large object in one of the parking spaces that was actually an eight-foot male alligator.
Officers at Sunset Beach say they are often dispatched to animal control calls but have never been a part of one in their own parking lot.
An officer who is licensed with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission was able to remove the alligator and take it to a nearby pond.
The police department said it served as a reminder for everyone to always be aware of their surroundings.
WATCH | Large alligator blocks road in southeastern North Carolina
Large alligator blocks road in southeastern North Carolina
9-foot alligator hit while trying to cross road in Craven County
SEE ALSO: New horned dinosaur species discovered 'largest and most ornate' of its kind ever found