Man flees LAPD, abandons exotic snakes on Hollywood Walk of Fame

A man using exotic snakes to solicit money from tourists on the Hollywood Walk of Fame fled when LAPD vice officers approached him Friday, abandoning the animals near the Hollywood Wax Museum on one of Los Angeles' busiest tourist corridors.

The incident highlights persistent enforcement challenges in Hollywood's tourist corridor, where unauthorized street vendors and performers draw regular attention from LAPD's vice unit, which is also responsible for policing the commercial use of exotic animals.

LAPD Hollywood Vice Unit officers spotted the man displaying exotic snakes to tourists along Hollywood Boulevard, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. As officers moved to make contact with him near the Hollywood Wax Museum, the man ran from the scene, leaving the animals behind on the sidewalk.

Officers collected the abandoned snakes and placed them in a bin before contacting L.A. Animal Control, which took custody of the animals for proper handling and placement, according to ABC7.

The species of the snakes was not immediately identified. No arrests were announced and the man remained unidentified as of Friday, ABC7 reported.

The LAPD's Hollywood Vice Unit patrols one of the city's most heavily trafficked tourist areas. In addition to traditional vice enforcement, the unit is responsible for cracking down on the unauthorized commercial use of animals — a practice that has drawn visitor complaints and safety concerns along Hollywood Boulevard in recent years.

No charges had been filed as of Friday, and LAPD did not publicly identify the man or disclose the type of snakes involved, ABC7 reported.