BELTON, Texas — Where the Buffalo Roam: Police officers in Belton met a rather unusual suspect the morning of Oct. 25, a bison.
The burly bovine was reportedly found in a field near IH-35 and Penelope St. According to Belton Public Information Officer Paul Romer, the bison had been pinned up at a local veterinarian's office on east 6th Ave.
Police say that cowboys on horseback were dispatched to the scene to corral the animal. According to Romer, the bison took off when the cowboys tried to capture it, running to the I-14 frontage road and into some brush near the Tractor Supply.
Bonita Smith, a Belton resident, had a front row seat to the unusual scene. At first she thought the large brown animal was a bear.
"It was an experience," Smith said. "To be in this part of town -- it was scary but it was funny."
Smith watched law enforcement and other Central Texans try to wrangle in the bison for hours outside her house. She said the bison was so quick and law enforcement wasn't able to do it. That's why they called in backup.
"Once it went charging, it was gone like a motorcycle, like someone running from the law," Smith explained.
"I was taking that cell phone video and the bison charged me and now I can say with conviction and authority -- stay away from bisons," Romer said.
With the help of dogs and two tranquilizers, the cowboys were able to rope the bison and safely move it into a trailer. The bison has now reportedly been returned to the veterinarian, who will return the animal to its owner.
"Tranquilizers were the safest thing for that bison because it was spooked," Romer explained. "It was scared. It was traveling tremendously fast near lots of cars. So, to be able to hit it with those tranquilizers helped slow it down and help them catch it. It never lost consciousness or anything like that and the men who were working with it were skilled."
Romer said the situation was uneasy with how close the roaming bison was to schools and the interstates. He's thankful no humans or the bison were injured in the hours long incident.
The bison is reportedly doing well, and as of yet Belton PD has not charged it with any crimes.
There has also been no word about where the deer and the antelope play.
Smith wanted to share one piece of advice for anyone after her experience.
"If you ever come out your home and see something that you didn't expect to see, run for your life," she said.