Mike Jenkins Sells Hides/ Rips Off Customer/ Sells Illegal Gator Meat in Restaurant/ Fort Pierce, Florida

When I originally read this report I was floored. I've known Mike Jenkins for more than 15 years and nothing about his character, behavior, history or my previous business dealings with him would suggest he is anything other than a gentleman with an incredibly good heart. It horrifies me to realize that the author or this "article" can so blatantly slander another and still sleep at night.

What bothers me even more is that the entire incident could have been avoided had the author of this complaint simply left the gators in their native habitat, and not tried to make them pets. By continuously feeding these beautiful, but potentially dangerous creatures - in a neighborhood full of people no less, their eventual removal was impossible to avoid. I won't waste the space or time of any readers by recounting horror stories of what can happen when gators get too comfortable around humans. If you're unaware, a cursory internet research can easily educate you. Children growing up in this area are taught from a young age to NEVER, EVER to feed a gator. It's common sense, and ignoring it is not only dangerous, but incredibly selfish behavior. Not only does it endanger people, but neighborhood pets as well.

My first question, however, is why this is even on a consumer reporting website? Mike Jenkins was not acting in any professional capacity when this incident occurred - simply assisting the certified trapper. As another commenter pointed out, the restaurant referred to is not operated by his mother, she only owns the property where it is located. For reference - the restaurant in question does not and has not, ever served gator. As a matter of courtesy I will not name the restaurant, as they have nothing to do with this, and don't deserve to be dragged through the mud as well.

Forever linking the good name of an upstanding individual or business to such slanderous and unfounded accusations is not only unethical, but potential libelous, and I can only hope the author of this article is aware of the possible repercussions. Considering they are yet to provide any actual evidence (i.e. - legitimate news stories, verifiable personal accounts or even material evidence) of the incidents they allege occurred, I see no reason to believe this entire report is anything other than a malicious attempt to inflict intentional damage to Mike Jenkins' stellar reputation and cause emotional distress.

This is not the place to carry on neighborhood disagreements. The service provided by this website is a valuable one for truly wronged consumers, not a forum for harassment. 

When I first read this article I could not stop laughing ,and I can laugh because I know Mike Jenkins . Mr. Jenkins is one of the most honest people I've ever met. It is sad that someone would fabricate so many lies but that is exactly what this article is ,one big lie. As far as the drinking goes I can say with out any question Mike is not a drinker. Oh I almost forgot about the gator skin couch .....right.  Mike Jenkins is a good man as well as an asset to our community .

I've known Mike Jenkins for 32 years - I have never ONCE seen him take a drink.  The neighbor who reported this is feeding these gators, which is illegal.  These gators have killed two neighborhood dogs over the past several years.  It wasn't so bad when these gators were only a 2-3 ft long; now they are 10-12 ft long and are not afraid of humans any longer due to people feeding them that are clueless to what can happen when these animals loose their fear of human beings.  This is exactly what has happened at this location, so thank you Mr. Beumer and Ms. Ries; you are the reason these gators have to be removed in this manner; which by the way was completely performed by state authorized individuals of the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC).  I have 4 grandchildren that cannot even go near the dock because we don't know how these gators will react; again thanks goes to Mr. Beumer and Ms. Ries for making these beautiful creatures fearless of humans, you should let your ducks go swimming with them!  

As for the rest of your story; allow me to tell all the readers the real truth:  1)Mike Jenkins NEVER sold a leather couch to these individuals or any one else - EVER.  2)There is NO news release from FOX - we asked the FOX affiliate (Fox29News) if they had ever reported on this or if Mr. Beumer or Ms. Ries  ever contacted them about a request to run such an article - the answer was NO to both questions.  3)The individuals in the photo is an authorized trapper working for the FWC, the gator was killed by the trapper and before it was; the trapper told Ms. Ries what was fixing to happen and if it was going to offend her "you may want to go inside" - nothing else was ever said by the trapper or Mike Jenkins to Ms. Ries - she opted to stay outside and continued to take lots of pictures however.  4)Only one neighbor was present, Ms. Ries.  5)Mrs. Jenkins restaurant (which is sub-leased) does not even have gator on the menu.  

Mr. Beumer and/or Ms. Ries at some point; put this article (they created) in most mailboxes in the neighborhood - which by the way is illegal also - you just can't open other peoples mail boxes; maybe you can in South Africa, but we tend to frown on that here in the USA.  I would like to ask Mr. Beumer and Ms. Ries to let us know what you did with the "gator couch" - still have it?  I've never seen one! 

In regards to the report filed on Mike Jenkins regarding the  trapping of nuisance gathers.  I have lived in this neighborhood for 23 years and only recently have seen a congregation of large 10+ alligators frequenting this small canal. (See reference photo) The trapping of nuisance alligators in residential areas is a legal and necessary activity.  These alligators become habituated to people and the area by being feed as if they were pets. Feeding alligators is illegal and creates a hazard to the people and animals in the neighborhood.  The people objecting to this practice are often the ones creating the problem.  I fully support prosecuting anyone feeding these animals.

The author of this report makes outrageous statements and accusations totally without  merit aimed only at attacking a reputable family and their businesses.  The content demonstrates the unstable mental condition of the author(s). They should consider the legal ramification of publishing such false and defamatory statements.