DECEMBER 11, 2023- On Friday evening, 23-year-old Anthony Michael Lessa was arrested for disorderly conduct at Rick’s Reef restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida. According to the police report, Lessa was intoxicated and threw pieces of alligator meat, referred to as “gator nuggets,” into the restaurant.
When confronted by staff about throwing food, Lessa “became belligerent” and approached a life-size manatee mannequin near the entrance. Shocking staff and customers, Lessa then proceeded to “sexually molest” the mannequin decorated with a t-shirt for tacos. The police complaint does not provide further details on the alleged molestation incident.
After the disturbance, Lessa ran from the restaurant to a nearby hotel, where he yelled obscenities and cursed at an employee. Police arriving on scene described Lessa as exhibiting multiple signs of intoxication. He repeatedly asked officers why he was being arrested.
Lessa was charged with disorderly intoxication and disturbance, a misdemeanor offense. He was briefly jailed before being released early Saturday morning. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lessa is a student pilot attending flight school in Ponte Vedra, Florida. His home address is listed as his family’s residence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.