Alameda County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Castro Valley man during a routine probation check Tuesday after they discovered he had 34 pounds of marijuana which was being guarded by a five-foot long alligator.

The sheriff's Special Investigation Unit stopped at the house of 32-year-old Assif Mayar on Mount Jasper Dr. around 1:30 p.m. for a probation compliance check, according to Sgt. J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

While there, investigators discovered in Mayar's room a 34-pound stash of dried, processed marijuana, and a Plexiglas tank nearby that contained Mayar's alligator, Mr. Teeth, Nelson said.

According to Nelson, Mayar had bought Mr. Teeth in 1996 to "commemorate the death of rapper Tupac Shakur." The alligator had acted as a deterrent for "would-be marijuana thieves."

"As soon as you get near it -- the plexiglass area -- the alligator gets agitated," explained Nelson.

The marijuana was valued by authorities at over $100,000.

Mayar was detained and booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on drug possession and sales charges, according to the sheriff's office.

On Wednesday, residents on the quiet Castro Valley cul de sac told KTVU the suspect lived in a rented two-story home with his wife and two-year-old son as well as several dogs including a pitbull.

Some neighbors said they suspected drug dealing, but were shocked to learn that Mayar had an alligator guarding marijuana in the home.

One neighbor spoke on the condition that she not be identifed.

"Having an alligator live across the street from you is outrageous," said the woman. "When I drove up, there were six police cars trying to deal with the alligator."

On Wednesday night, neighbors identified a woman driving a white SUV as Mayar's wife. When KTVU approached her, she drove off. She has not been charged, but authorities said her husband may face an additional charge for not having the proper permit for owning an exotic animal.

Mr. Teeth was taken to the Oakland Zoo, where zoo officials said he was being treated at its veterinary hospital Wednesday.

Vets were assessing Mr.Teeth's health, as it appeared that he was fairly sick and likely stressed from the events of the past few days. After he's checked out, he was expected to be placed in quarantine, zoo officials said.

According to the zoo, Mr. Teeth may be a caiman, a reptile in the alligator family.

Mayar is scheduled to be arraigned in court Thursday afternoon.