Drunk man on Horseback leads officers on chase across Florida Town

Charles Larkin Cowart, 29, of Bunnell, Fla., was riding a horse in a drunken state when arrested by the police on Monday and was jailed for charges including aggravated fleeing and eluding, petty theft and cruelty to animals, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence.

Cowart was found on a surveillance camera, allegedly drunk while riding a horse around a Florida town making a spectacle of himself and disrupting traffic.

According to the police, Cowart resisted when the police ordered him to dismount the horse. Cowart’s manner was aggressive as he reared the horse back and rode off instead of listening to the police. His father, Chuck Cowart, was responsible for bringing him off the horse, when Cowart ran into a nearby wooden area. The police dogs then chased him and he was taken into custody. Chuck Cowart told WJXT “That’s my son, and he’s mentally depressed, and the family’s behind him and we’ve got him where we can help him, I appreciate all the help that I’ve had getting him where I got him.”

The police did not chase the alleged suspect right away on purpose since he was on a horse in a public place and the safety of all was taken into consideration. According to Bunnell Police Chief Jeffrey Hoffman, “He made it into the heart of the city and was in and out of traffic. He was causing quite a hazard. He made his way onto the railroad tracks, and we had to stop a southbound train.” The whole affair was very eventful for the spectators around.

A Bail of $7,250 was set for Cowart. It is still unclear whether he made bail or not. Jail records show that Cowart was arrested and charged with petty theft earlier this month. In Oct-2012, he was also charged with a DUI.