A runaway Longhorn, described variously in reports as a cow or bull, was fatally shot deputies in Dodge County, Minnesota, after a 50-minute pursuit in which the animal repeatedly charged at people and vehicles, forcing highway closures.
The incident began around 2 p.m. August 31 when farmer Brandon Schmoll reported that one of his cows had escaped while being transferred to a pasture along County Road 34, east of Dodge Center.
According to KAAL-TV, Sheriff Scott Rose said dispatch “alerted the Canadian Pacific Railroad about the incident” and that deputies “shut down both lanes of Highway 14 multiple times as the cow moved in that direction.”
Witnesses told police that the longhorn entered the median of Highway 14 and repeatedly attempted to cross the cable barriers. Video shared with Bring Me The News showed the animal charging at one of its would-be captors.
In a statement quoted by Bring Me The News, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said: “The owners attempted to capture the cow several times, but it caused the animal to ‘violently’ charge at its would-be wranglers, with one family member ‘struck’ by the cow.”
Rose confirmed to KAAL-TV that the struck family member declined medical treatment, but due to the “cow’s aggressive behavior and danger to the public, the owner gave deputies permission to shoot the animal to prevent anyone from getting hurt.”
The cow then crossed the median and bolted south on 200th Avenue toward Dodge Center Airport. Deputies fired shots after it entered a field. Despite being hit, the cow continued running and charged toward a deputy’s squad car.
Rose told ABC 6 News, “That deputy was able to shoot the cow and put it down at approximately 2:50 p.m., ending the incident without anyone getting hurt.”
KROC-AM News reported that the sheriff’s office described the ordeal as lasting about 50 minutes and confirmed that “deputies were granted permission to shoot the cow due to its dangerous behavior.”
The Minnesota Department of Transportation briefly issued a warning on its 511 traffic map for drivers to be on the lookout for animals near Dodge Center. Highway 14 was reopened later that evening.
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