Horse On The Loose Captured In Fishtown
By Jan Carabeo and David Spunt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Right around seven o'clock Friday morning, only Eyewitness News was there as a runaway horse barreled down Spring Garden Street.
In tow, was more than a half a dozen Philadelphia finest.
Heard on police radio, "Uhhh, we got a horse running loose. He's coming from Kelly Drive the wrong way from ... and Kelly."
#EXCLUSIVE: Just before capture on Richmond near Girard. Horse seen running on Kelly, Spring Garden and Beach this morning. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/cT2b2qrt7X
— Jan Carabeo (@JanCarabeoCBS3) April 14, 2017
Her owners call her "Big Mama," and this is her heyday.
She eventually made her way to Richmond and Girard. Our cameras captured her again, as the now slow-speed chase came to an end.
"She ran her --- off. All the way down Kelly Drive, all the way over to Spring Garden, and she was moving pretty good too, I didn't jump in until like Broad Street."
These officers first spotted the runaway near the Art Museum where they were working traffic at Eakins Oval.
"I heard 12th ... 7th ... 2nd ... he's moving!"
All along the way, Big Mama's police escort stopped traffic and turned heads.
Thomas Aponte had just arrived to work in Fishtown when Philly cops safely caught up.
"I parked and when I got out the car I seen the horse running down Richmond Ave and blocking him off it was really funny. "
A few jokes aside…
"Captain called he said stop horsing around and get back to work. "
A job well-done.
Randy Graham, of York, Pennsylvania says, "Perfect job. I commend the Philadelphia Police Department for that."
And after a bite of an officer's lunch, Big Mama got a ride home.
#EXCLUSIVE: Runaway horse rewarded with Philly cop's lunch carrots. Job well done, @PhillyPolice. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/VQzHUmBJXn
— Jan Carabeo (@JanCarabeoCBS3) April 14, 2017
Turns out, that's about five miles away at 26th and Fletcher in North Philadelphia, where her owner, and the man who mistakenly let her out, were waiting.
Stephon Tolbert says, "Very thankful. Very very thankful."
"I opened the door she knocked me down."
A mistake he won't soon forget, and a capture these officers will always remember.