Austin Police Department

Dusty the horse

Police arrested an Austin woman late Saturday after they say she assaulted a police horse downtown on east Sixth Street.

Police said the woman, Corsha Beasley, 21, took off her high-heeled shoe and struck the horse, Dusty, near his left eye.

Police were in the area after responding to a stabbing at a local bar. A large crowd gathered during the investigation, became hostile and would not move from the scene.

Mounted patrol officers were called in to assist with the crowd and clear them from the sidewalk.

When a mounted patrol officer tried to stop Beasley from assaulting the horse, they say she struck the officer in the face with the same shoe she used to strike Dusty.

In an affidavit, police said if Beasley would have been any closer, the horse would have sustained permanent eye damage. Had this happened, Dusty would no longer be able to serve as a police service animal.

Sr. Officer Dawn Leonard said situations like this happen much too often.

“It will range anywhere from someone slapping at the horse when we walk by to unfortunately a full out assault where they are trying to hurt the horse,” she said.

She said it usually happens when bars close.  “We see more incidents just because, again, people have been drinking.”

Leonard is one of seven Austin Mounted Patrol Units who trot through downtown streets preventing crime and controlling unruly crowds.

“We can move a crowd more effectively just because our size and height advantage. We can see things in the crowd that a foot officer wouldn't be able to see,” stated Leonard.

APD

Corsha Beasley

Officers charged Beasley with felony assault to a public servant. A judge set bond at $10,000. Dusty and the officer are doing fine.