ALLIANCE, Ohio — A report of suspicious activity in a Walmart parking lot took an unexpected turn when an Alliance police officer found a man riding a bull near the store entrance, WFMJ reported.
According to the Alliance Police Department, Officer Ronald Hook was dispatched to the 2500 block of West State Street on Nov. 6 after a caller reported “a male with a cowboy hat riding a whitish bull” in the parking lot, according to the report.
| POLICE RESEARCH: How 8-, 10- and 12-hour police shifts affect staffing and wellness
“If I’m reading this right, is he actually riding a real bull?” Hook asked the dispatcher, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.
Upon arrival, Hook confirmed the unusual sight: a man on “bullback,” riding through the Tractor Supply parking lot. The rider and his animal were en route to a rodeo event at Garwood Arena in Columbiana County.
“I have so many questions,” the officer said.
No violations were issued. Instead, the officer took the opportunity to pose for a photo atop the bull, marking what the department called a memorable moment during a “routine” shift.
Body camera video posted to the Alliance Police Department’s Facebook page brought in thousands of comments.
“Imagine being the person who called the police… just to see the police officer riding the bull,” one commenter stated.
“Chief: so Tim why tf did you get on the bull? Tim: well sir it was a once in a life time opportunity,” another stated.
“That cop had to get on that bull and take a photo because no one would have believed him otherwise,” another joked.
