WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A cast member of CMT's coming-of-age documentary series, "Gainesville: Friends are Family" was arrested after posting a video of himself and another man catching a juvenile alligator by hand.
Authorities say Brian Patrick Bunting, 21, and Jonathan Swick, 31, both from South Florida, illegally captured the alligator and posted a video online as they posed with it.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's officials say the men were fishing in May when they lured the gator to shore using a fishing line.
An arrest report says the two held the alligator, snapping pictures with it.
In the video posted on Bunting's Facebook page, he says, "Have y'all seen anyone get bit by an alligator before?"
Bunting told officials they knew it was illegal to play with gators and that they eventually released it.
On his Facebook page, Bunting claimed to be a cast member of CMT's "Gainseville: Friends are Family," which was confirmed on CMT's website.
In his bio on the site, Bunting is described as "the life of the party with a huge heart, even if it seems like he's a kid in a grownup body. Although they broke up four years ago, Brian is still in love with his ex-girlfriend Andreya (also a cast member). Andreya wants a stable man by her side, and he's determined to show her he's up for the job."
The two men were arrested Sunday on a charge of capturing an alligator and were released on bond the same day.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.