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.
He’ll sleep well tonight.
Good thing they didn’t mistake him for a dog.
LOL. That’s cold.
Thems rural cops and probably can tell the difference.
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