Time and again, we keep hearing about heroic dogs who assist cops by sniffing out explosives and contraband at official checkpoints and several other sites. But have you heard of animals turning into informers for law enforcement officials?
Something along the lines of this bizarre thought actually took place in North Carolina, USA.?
In a surprising turn of events, grazing cows became unlikely informers in cops' pursuit of an escapee when they guided officers from the Town of Boone Police Department to a spot in their field where the suspect was hiding.
On Tuesday, the bovine onlookers assisted in the unique bust when Boone police and Watauga County sheriff's deputies were tracking a man who skipped a traffic stop and led them on a hunt across western North Carolina's rural landscape.
"The suspect abandoned his vehicle in the area of US (Highway) 421 and US (Highway) 221 in Deep Gap and fled into an undeveloped area," authorities said in a release.?
"Due to the suspect's fast and reckless driving our officers were not close enough to see exactly where the suspect ran."
The 34-year-old man, now identified as Joshua Russell Minton, could hide briefly in the field as ruffled bovines chose to reveal the invader to the police.
?"As officers began to search the area they received some unexpected, but welcomed assistance from some local cows. Apparently cows do not want suspected criminals loitering in their pasture and quickly assisted our officers by leading them directly to where the suspect was hiding," read a Facebook post by Boone police.
On a lighter note, the smalltown North Carolina police department shared their willingness to recruit some crime-fighting cows after their help was instrumental in dealing with the situation.
The social media post further read, "As we examine the obvious next steps of incorporating a Bovine Tracking Unit into our department's law enforcement capabilities there are many factors that we will have to consider:
? How adaptable are cows to a variety of police work or can they just find hiding suspects?
? Are cows more cost effective than K-9 dogs?
? How will we transport cows to the scenes, and is this compatible with the Town's sustainability goals in terms of types of vehicles needed and obviously there are methane issues?"
Officials have revealed that Minton faces multiple charges, including felony, evasion of arrest, driving with a revoked license, and disorderly conduct.
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