BODY CAM: Florida man strikes police horse, leads to wild horseback chase in crowd
Police said Justin Riera then allegedly struck the police horse before running off into the crowd, attempting to evade apprehension. (TPD)
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YBOR CITY, Fla. (CBS12) — Video shows the moment a Florida police officer on horseback pursued a 22-year-old suspect after he struck the officer’s horse.
The body camera video shows a Tampa Police Department (TPD) Mounted Patrol officer and horse clearing a busy street in Ybor City on March 9.
“Ybor’s closed. Time to go home,” the officer can be heard saying as he and his horse, Mount Opus, were making their way through the crowd.
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However, moments later, the officer can be heard saying, “Do not touch the horse.”
Police said Justin Riera then allegedly struck the police horse before running off into the crowd, attempting to evade apprehension.
The horse can be seen galloping through the crowd as the officer went after Riera.
“Stop you’re under arrest. Watch out,” the officer said.
Eventually, officers were able to apprehend Riera.
“That’s a felony to hit a horse,” the officer said.
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Riera was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on one felony count of offenses against police animals for touching or striking the horse, named Mount Opus, and one misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence.
TPD reminded the public that K-9s and mounted patrol horses are considered officers and are protected by law. Engaging with these animals requires permission from their handlers.
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Woman arrested, accused of trying to drown children at OKC pool
Oklahoma City police arrested a woman on complaints of child abuse, accused of possibly trying to drown two children in June.
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Updated: 10:42 PM CDT Aug 22, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma City police arrested a woman on complaints of child abuse, accused of possibly trying to drown two children in June.
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The two children involved were cousins and even though they were only in three feet of water at the Will Rogers Family Aquatic Center, the lifeguards at the pool saved their lives.
“His instincts jumped in when he came back to that scanned area, and they were still face down, he entered the water to make the save,” said Mason Williams, supervisor for the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.
At the end of June, the two children, ages four and six, were seen motionless underwater when they were saved by lifeguards.
“With the assistance of a patron in the water, that lifeguard and one of our other head lifeguards were able to evacuate those two out of the water,” Williams said.
A police report said it was initially a drowning call, a tense situation for parents and pool staff.
“The young girl, I believe, we did have to give some resuscitation breaths to, and we were able to get that water out of her system and bring her back,” Williams said.
KOCO 5 learned this week that the mother of one of the children and an aunt to the other child was arrested on Wednesday. A witness told officers at the scene that the woman was seen holding the kids underwater while several people yelled at her, but it’s unknown how long the children were without air, according to an affidavit.
“Two minutes is kind of that point of no return almost where you really want to get them back,” Williams said.
One of the victims, the woman’s daughter, was interviewed by officers this week. The girl “disclosed she was only able to touch the bottom of the swimming pool with her hands. She disclosed her mother had attempted to force her to swallow water,” according to the affidavit.
The lifeguards that jumped into action were 16 and 21 years old.
“Our lifeguard that was on the stand that observed this, it was his first season. He had been on the job for four weeks when it happened. So, he was able to react, put his training into effect,” Williams said.
KOCO 5 is not reporting the woman’s name since formal charges have not been filed yet. After being interviewed by police on Wednesday, “the defendant was adamant this was something she did not do. However, confessed that this was something she could have done,” according to the affidavit.
Del City woman accused of preying on young boys at public pool
Posted: Jul 25, 2024 / 05:52 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 25, 2024 / 05:52 PM CDT
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
DEL CITY, Okla. (KFOR) — A woman was arrested after allegedly preying on young boys at a Metro pool.
Del City police said the boys, ages 12 and 13, called police and told them the woman had been touching them over the last few days at the pool and even asked one of them to be his girlfriend.OKLAHOMA NEWS: Good Samaritan helps save couple from burning car
“It’s definitely troubling to see something like this happen at a place where, you know, we want people to come and feel safe and just have a good time while they’re there,” said Major Brad Cowden, with Del City Police.
28-year-old Kayla Lena is accused of groping the two boys at the Eagle Harbor Aquatic Center.
“Made inappropriate gestures and comments to them and at one point had even tried to remove some of their clothing, exposing them in the pool area,” said Cowden.
Court documents state Lena continuously grabbed the victims, even going as far as calling them daddy as parents and other children swam nearby.
Lifeguards told police Lena followed the boys around the pool “touching them in the groin and buttocks.”
Police said the children called 9-1-1.
Officers found Lena outside of the public pool.
In body camera footage released to News 4, officers can be heard telling Lena to put her hands together and she responds “okay.”
You can also hear Lena asking officers to “call her grandma,” officers then asked her “how old are you?” and she responds “28.”
The officer then asks Lena “what’s going on today?” in which Lena responded “nothing.”
Eventually Lena did try to explain her actions.
“She thought she was drowning and grabbed one of the juveniles in an attempt to pull herself up.” said Cowden.
Lena was taken to the Oklahoma County Jail.
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“It really, really emphasizes the importance of both the staff and just parents in general to be to be mindful, be vigilant of their children, even in public places,” said Cowden.
Jail records show Lena is no longer in custody after being bailed out.
She is facing two counts of Lewd Acts to a Child Under 16.
