It has been reported that a man has been arrested after setting 15 Standardbred racehorses loose from their stalls, one of which ended up drowning in a nearby body of water.
According to an article by The Plain Dealer, Jonathan Ford, a 28-year-old resident of Mansfield, Ohio, was arrested today (Monday, Jan. 14) and is facing a slew of charges in relation to the situation.
It has been alleged that at roughly 6 a.m. Ford released 15 racehorses from their stalls at the Stark County Fairgrounds. Fourteen over the horses were eventually corralled after being loose in adjacent neighbourhoods. One of the horses was not so lucky, though, as it drowned in Meyers Lake after rescue attempts by Canton police and firefighters were unsuccessful.
Canton police have stated that additional charges could be possible, but at this point Ford is facing four charges: breaking and entering, inducing panic, disrupting public service and possession of drugs.
The names of the horses involved in the situation have not been made public at this point, but Trot Insider will update this story with the information if it is made available.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of the horses involved.
(With files from The Plain Dealer)