Police launched an urgent response following multiple reports of an escaped alligator - only to find it was an inflatable crocodile.
Residents were horrified to spot the green reptile lurking in a pond in Stafford County, Virginia, and called officers for assistance.
Police rushed to the scene after telling residents that it could be dangerous to approach the creature unarmed.
But it runs out that the terrifying alligator was simply an inflatable swimming pool toy.
Deputy Arron Morelli, 51, said he received calls from multiple witnesses that the reptile had entered a pond from the shoreline.
Anxious to put his alligator wrangling skills to work, Morelli, who works in the animal control department, immediately responded to the call and went and checked the pond.
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But when the deputy arrived in the incident on September 6, he breathed a sigh of relief after discovering that the terrifying carnivorous reptile was actually a children's pool float
A spokesman from Strafford County Sheriff's Office said: "The position of animal control officer requires the deputy to answer all types of law enforcement calls.
"They must be capable of answering a robbery call one minute and removing a snake from a residence the next.
"However, trapping an alligator is far down the list of possibilities for our police department.
"Were pleased to announce that residents can now sleep a little easier knowing there is not an alligator problem in Stafford County!"
In 2014, a mum-of-one was left mortified after spotting a 'crocodile' in her garden, which also tricked police officers.
Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police even called in a team of wildlife experts from Dartmoor Zoo to the garden in Plymouth.
They set off with snare poles, nets and riot shields to assist before officers threw water over the 'crocodile' realised it was an inflatable toy.
It was removed from the garden and placed in police custody, while the Dartmoor Zoo team were stood down.
The woman, who did want to be named, said: "I was making my lunch in the kitchen and looked out into the back garden.
"It was pouring with rain and I saw what I thought was a crocodile in the garden. I went to my neighbour's house to ask if they would come and have a look at it.
"They did think it was a baby crocodile and suggested calling the RSPCA or the police but we decided to call the police as I have a three-year-old and was worried.
"A policeman and a policewoman arrived and at that point, we were all a bit suspicious because it hadn't moved.
"One of the police officers bravely went out to have a look. They threw water on it and it didn't move. I'm absolutely mortified."
A police spokesman said: "Police officers attended and bravely investigated. The beast turned out to be an inflatable toy crocodile. Police have apprehended the crocodile."
