Alligators Found Guarding Washington Pot Crop

Detectives called to a Washington home after reports of a shooting discovered 15 marijuana plants being guarded by alligators.

The reptiles were kept in a room with the plants and hissed at detectives who opened the door, according to a Thurston County Sheriff spokesman.

"This was a fairly atypical event," Lieutenant Greg Elwin said.

Police said that standing among the plants and reptiles was an adult entertainer with a floor-to-ceiling brass stripper pole beside her.

"We see brass poles from time to time, but there were alligators," Lt Elwin said.

"They were there for protection for the marijuana grow area. They were just crawling around on the floor."

One detective compared the scene to a Hollywood movie, officers told the Seattle Times.

The 1.5-metre long alligators were placed in a bath and given pieces of raw chicken by police, before being removed from the Olympia property.

Darren Shore, 41, who lives at the house, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after telling detectives he had fired at a car in self-defence, fearing it would run him over.

A 30-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds to the arm and back was treated at a nearby hospital for minor wounds.