Posted on 05/02/2012 9:10:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Police business is usually pretty serious, but a pursuit in Fargo Sunday was the cause of a few giggles... if not outright guffaws.
A miniature horse named Jellybean caused some big trouble for police officers when it escaped and led cops on a slow-speed chase.
The little brown-and-white pony was taking part in a Girl Scout pet adoption event when he wiggled out of his halter and went on the lam.
Jellybean is in training to be a therapy pet at the Hightail Horse Ranch and Rescue in Hawley, MN. The Hightail Rescue program works to adopt out rescued horses to new homes and provides lessons for new horsemen, Hightail owner Charlotte Tuhy told the Fargo Inforum Sunday.
Squads were patrolling in the area around 2:45 p.m. when they noticed the 3-foot-tall horse meandering along the street.
About the same time officers spotted Jellybean, Hightail volunteers noticed he was no longer tied to the trailer where he was supposed to be resting.
"Kids started yelling and screaming, and off they went," said Hightail volunteer Kathy Faeth. "The chase was on."
Tuhy said it was unusual for Jellybean to run off from his best friend, another horse who was still at the adoption event. Vettel said officers followed the miniature horse, trying several times to corral him.
Officers and Jellybean's handlers were becoming increasingly worried as he ran by high-traffic areas such as the corner of Main Avenue and 45th Street.
While speeds were slow during most of the pursuit, at times the little horse forced squads to accelerate to more than 30 mph. "(Officers) said they were amazed at how fast his little legs could go," recalled Lt. Joel Vettel of the Fargo Police Department.
Fortunately Jellybean got tired after 30 minutes or so and officers were able to catch up with him.
"The Police Department was really good. The pony had actually gone up to one of the policemen and curled up to him," Faeth said.
Though critters ranging from moose to skunks have been spotted within Fargo city limits, Vettel said a small horse is definitely an oddity. And while the officers involved said it wasn't easy, Vettel said they had fun corralling Jellybean.
"It worked out really well, and I think everybody was appreciative that he wasn't hurt," he said.
Cute little guy.
thnx.
If he had pissed them off he would have become chislik.
A proud day for the Fargo Police Dept. Three men to subdue an animal that is barely visible in the picture.
It's not hard.
/johnny
Except it’s not a pony, it’s a horse. They were bred to pull ore carts in the mines.
I would rather that, than see them unload their service weapons into the beast because they thought it "might" be dangerous. Care often takes far more effort than disdain, just as civilization takes more effort than tyranny.
For reference, see: Cop shoots cow.
hey, c’mon, at least they didn’t shoot it!
Awwww. this is adorable!
I find that local police are not as creative as state police. Their default mode is to just shoot at it, even if the task is getting a kitten out of a tree or opening a locked car door.
Poor Jellybean looks exhausted!
As a ponygirl, I know secrets.
Small horse in Stable condition after he hoofed it avoiding the lawmen for a while. He didn’t Go Far in Fargo.
Lazlo: “I find that local police are not as creative as state police. Their default mode is to just shoot at it, even if the task is getting a kitten out of a tree or opening a locked car door.”
C’mon, Lazlo. Seriously? When’s the last time you saw or read about local police shooting kittens out of trees?
Lol
Not recently. They are out of season right now.
Funny! No harm, no foul, it looks like they all had fun-except the horse.
I am glad it worked out without the animal being shot. Good cops.
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