5 arrested for assaulting Mpls. police horses after bar-closing time this weekend
Mounted officers in downtown Minneapolis had their horses assaulted after bar-closing by five men just this past weekend, and it's the type of horsing around that police say is on the increase in recent years.
All five suspects were jailed and cited with assault on a police horse and other misdemeanors.
Police Sgt. Bill Palmer said intoxication appears to have played a role in the men either slapping the horses on their face or hindquarters. In one instance, one of the men grabbed a horse by the bridle, nearly causing the officer in the saddle to lose control of the animal as imbibing pedestrians roamed the streets.
The first instance occurred about 1:50 a.m. Saturday on 1st Avenue N. near 4th Street, with Kyle Soderberg, 22, of northeast Minneapolis, being arrested.
Less than 30 minutes later and a block away on 1st Avenue, Anthony William Gonzalez, also 22, slapped police horse Jesse after being told he had to leave the area, the police report read.
Then at about 2:21 a.m. Sunday, police arrested Matthew J. Semler, of Glenshaw, Pa., and Randy D. Schock, of Eden Prairie, outside Sneaky Pete's on 5th Street N. Semler, 24, and Schock, 35, were also cited for obstructing the legal process during their alleged equine confrontation.
About 45 minutes later, Justin M. Mobley, of Eagan, was arrested outside Brothers Bar & Grill in the 400 block of 1st Avenue. Along with assaulting the horse, Mobley, 25, also stands accused of fleeing a police officer.
There have been at least 10 assaults on police horses in Minneapolis this year, Palmer said.
There were 16 in 2009, and four each in 2008 and 2007, according to the sergeant.
The Minneapolis Mounted Patrol was created in 1996 with two riders and three horses. Today the unit has eight horses, mostly donated by private citizens. More than 20 sworn officers are fully trained riders.
Breeds used vary from quarter horses to thoroughbreds. Jesse, for example, is a Percheron. Members of that breed typically weigh around 2,000 pounds when fully grown.