RILEY, Ore. (AP) — Police say a young man was arrested after he was caught on video riding on the back of a mule deer that was trapped in a fenced area in rural eastern Oregon.
Oregon State Police say 18-year-old Jacob Belcher of Riley was arrested Friday and charged with wildlife harassment and animal abuse. It wasn’t known if he has a lawyer.
Police say someone sent the state police’s Fish and Wildlife division a video of Belcher climbing onto the young mule deer buck and riding the animal, which appears exhausted.
Troopers said the deer makes grunting or bleating sounds throughout the video. After it escaped Belcher, it jumped into a linked fence repeatedly while trying to escape.
The deer had been trapped in a fenced feeding enclosure, police said. It was eventually freed, and police don’t know where the deer is now.
Belcher was arrested, and another person who filmed the alleged incident was also interviewed. That person may be charged with aiding in a wildlife offense, state police said.