A night at the rodeo in Marion County took a strange turn earlier this month when a man on horseback allegedly tried to run down a woman instead of, say, a barrel or a steer. Deputies say the incident happened at a rodeo event on SE 118th Lane in Belleview around 10 p.m. on July 5, and it ended with the rider facing several felony charges.
For most of us, “getting away from the cops on horseback” sounds like something out of an old western, not a Tuesday night in Central Florida. But that’s reportedly what 45-year-old Antonio Castillo-Ortega attempted, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, before things got even more complicated involving a car, some woods, and an ambulance parked in exactly the wrong spot for him.
We deal with a lot of stories here about people trying to outrun law enforcement in trucks, muscle cars, and the occasional golf cart. A horse is a new one for us, and honestly, we respect the creativity even if the execution left plenty to be desired. Horses are fast, but they’re not exactly known for slipping through a police perimeter unnoticed.
Here’s what deputies say happened, and how a rodeo night ended in a pair of foot chases, a car swap, and a very confused horse standing somewhere in Belleview wondering what its night just turned into.
What Deputies Say Happened at the Rodeo
Image Credit: FOX 35 Orlando.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, a woman told deputies that Castillo-Ortega attempted to run her over with the horse he was riding during the event. When deputies caught up with him and tried to conduct a stop nearby, he reportedly attempted to drive off in a vehicle, only to find his exit blocked by a Marion County Fire Rescue ambulance.
That’s about the least ideal roadblock to run into, an emergency vehicle that isn’t moving for anybody.
From the Woods to a Second Vehicle
Instead of stopping there, Castillo-Ortega allegedly took off on foot into a wooded area. Deputies eventually located him getting into a second vehicle on SE 36th Avenue.
When they stopped that car too, they say he was attempting to hide in the backseat, which is a strategy that works great in a game of hide-and-seek with a five-year-old and considerably less great during an active traffic stop with deputies who already know your face.
The Explanation, and the Questions Still Open
As for why any of this happened, Castillo-Ortega reportedly told deputies the woman had gotten too close to him while he was on the horse and that she tried to spit on him, prompting him to splash his beer on her in response. He now faces charges including domestic aggravated assault, domestic simple battery, and resisting arrest without violence, the last one apparently earned twice over in one eventful night.
What isn’t clear is the nature of the relationship between Castillo-Ortega and the woman involved, and authorities haven’t said anything about the current whereabouts or condition of the horse, which honestly might be the only party involved who had a calm evening.
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