BC Horse Sex Crime Suspect Identified, Arrested, Released
/
A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged bestiality incident involving three mares at a Vernon, B.C. equestrian centre.
Erica Van Meenen, owner of Abigail Equestrian, says she was alerted early Saturday morning after reviewing notifications from her security cameras, which showed a man walking toward her horse paddock. Van Meenen says she got out of bed, yelled out from her deck to confront the intruder, and then called police.
RCMP responded with a canine team but were initially unable to locate the suspect, who had fled the property. Officers later reviewed the security footage with Van Meenen, which she says shows a man sexually assaulting at least two of her mares inside the paddock. Van Meenen also believes a third mare may have been targeted.
She says the man appeared familiar with horses, noting that only mares were approached and none of the geldings. Van Meenen described the incident as not only disturbing but extremely dangerous, saying a single kick from a horse could be fatal.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP a man has since been arrested in connection with the case but has been released from custody pending further investigation.
No charges have been laid at this time
Find more unique and offbeat Canadian stories on The Canadian Gothic