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[ PREVIOUS STORIES ]

12-03-03: Two cows lead police officers on chase through streets of Coldwater

By MARGIE WUEBKER
mwuebker@dailystandard.com

Two pregnant cows took to the streets Tuesday afternoon in downtown Coldwater, leading police and bystanders on a memorable romp through the business district and into a nearby residential area.
An unidentified farmer, reportedly driving a pickup truck and towing a stock trailer, stopped shortly before 10:30 a.m. in front of Hibner Jewelers, 106 W. Main St. That’s when the action began.
Coldwater Police Chief Gery Thobe is not sure whether one of the two cows inside the trailer kicked the gate open or fell against it rump first.
Brianna Hibner looked out the jewelry store and saw the bovine wind up half on and half off the trailer. She immediately called 911 fearing there would be an accident due to heavy traffic in the area.
A semitrailer reportedly pulled beside the truck and stock trailer, effectively blocking one escape route. The cow, bleeding heavily from an injury between the front legs, decided to take off just about the time police arrived on the scene.
She headed east along the pavement without so much as a switch of her tail. Hoofing past Santa’s house, the disgruntled cow headed in the direction of Walnut Street. Unsuccessful attempts were made to turn the animal back in the direction of the trailer.
“At that point, Bossy was going wherever she wanted to go,” Thobe said with a chuckle. “She was definitely not in a good mood at that point.”
Still bleeding heavily, she stomped through the police chief’s lawn and those of several neighbors, apparently taking no heed of the following entourage, which included people as well as her owner’s truck and trailer.
“When the cow got tired of walking around town, she simply headed to the trailer and got back in,” Thobe added. “But the roundup wasn’t quite over.”
The other cow, endowed with a touch of wanderlust, apparently left the trailer at some point and went “tippy toeing” out of town, according to Thobe.
The department received reports of a cow strolling contentedly in the area of Mercer County Community Hospital and Briarwood Manor Nursing Home. Authorities quickly responded, hoping to bring the “moo-ving” incident to an abrupt halt.
“She was hiding behind a barn with only her head showing,” Thobe said. “This gal was mild-mannered compared to her girlfriend.”
The cow nonchalantly headed toward an open garage door and the farmer backed the trailer into the opening. Apparently tired of walking and eager for lunch, she daintily climbed into the trailer as nicely as you please just before 1 p.m.
Thobe says everything settled back into a pre-holiday routine, although parts of the community still look like a war zone with blood along streets and sidewalks. He has received no damage reports or updated information on the injured cow.
The police chief admits the two cows are not the first to pull off successful escapes and head for greener pastures. Several years ago one left a veterinarian’s office and led authorities on a merry chase before being tranquilized.
At this point, Thobe sees no reason to add lasso practice to the service training for local officers. Although he does think a mounted patrol would make cattle roundups much easier.

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