Mug Shot of the Week: Swamp People's "Trapper Joe" LaFont Arrested on Suspicion of Domestic Violence

Arrest report states he tried to burn girlfriend with a lit cigarette during an argument outside a Florida hotel bar

By Natalie Finn Jun 22, 2012 11:43 PMTags
Joe LaFont,Trapper Joe, Mug ShotOrange County (Fla.) Sheriff

Swamp People's bad luck continues.

A month after alligator hunter Mitchell Guist died of an apparent heart attack, Joe LaFont—better known as Trapper Joe on the History Channel series—was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against his girlfriend.

According to the arrest report obtained by E! News, LaFont hit her in the chest and attempted to burn her arm with a lit cigarette during an argument outside of a Lake Buena Vista, Fla., hotel.

Per the report, a witness told police that LaFont and the woman were leaving the hotel bar when LaFont "grabbed the victim by the upper arms, shook her very hard and she cried out loud...The defendant and the victim appeared to be intoxicated."

The victim—who refused medical attention at the scene—appeared to have been angry at LaFont and was demanding to know who had just called him on his cell phone, the witness said. She tried to grab his phone and that's when he attempted to burn her arm, the witness added.

The arresting officer said that, standing at arm's length away, he smelled booze on LaFont's breath, as well as the "strong odor of burned cigarette."

LaFont was taken into custody and later released on a $1,500 bond. His girlfriend, who refused to press charges, said in a sworn statement to police that they had been in an "intimate relationship" for nine months and had been living "as a family" for the last six months.

--Reporting by Sharareh Drury