A Nova Scotia man is facing charges including theft over $5,000 and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after he allegedly stole a truck and horse trailer from the chuckwagon grounds early Sunday morning. There were two horses tied to the trailer.
According to an RCMP press release, an occupant inside the horse trailer called to report the theft at approximately 4:30 a.m., saying he and his trailer “were being driven away by someone who had just stolen his truck from the chuckwagon grounds.”
The officers were able to determine an approximate location of the stolen vehicle from the occupant, who provided descriptions of landmarks as they passed.
After the truck slowed to turn west onto Highway 55 from Highway 41, the occupant was able to jump from the trailer and wait for the officers, who then learned of the horses tied to the trailer. The animals had been dragged for an unknown length of time, though they had broken free before RCMP stopped the truck.
RCMP located and arrested the suspect, who was still driving the stolen truck, on Highway 55, a few kilometres west of Highway 44.
According to Luis Gandolfi, Bonnyville Staff Sgt., the horses were extensively injured and received treatment by a veterinarian. They were not destroyed but one suffered intensive road rash to its hooves, neck and flanks.
The suspect, Joshua Mills, is charged with two counts of theft over $5,000, one count of endangering and/or injuring livestock, one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, two counts of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to comply with previous release conditions.
He is scheduled to appear at Bonnyville Provincial Court on Aug. 7.
