CATANIA (ITALPRESS) – The Squadra a Cavallo, the Flying Squad, the Flight Units (drons) and the Mobile Team of the State Police of Catania have denounced fifteen people, all native to the province of Messina, for having organized a clandestine race of horses in the territory of Camporotondo Etneo (CT) and for mistreatment of animals, remaining the presumption of innocence.
Last Sunday, at the first lights of the dawn, there was a sport competition between two jockeys under the command of horse-drawn baldness, surrounded by numerous motorcycles and cars, which at crazy race followed the competitors. Since the clandestine races are organized in isolated areas in order to avoid police controls and remotely identify the flyers in order to lose their tracks, the police, in order to avoid being noticed, have employed the drones supplied to the Catania Police and, thanks to the ability of the two drivers, despite the strong winds, they managed to monitor from above the group of organizers and the public. All stages of the race were resumed by the police at a distance so that they can identify the participants.
The jockeys, surrounded by numerous scooters that played the clacson at the club to press the horses, have blocked all the road and route about 2 kilometers, largely uphill, escorted by cars and two big vans used for the transport of horses, thus subjecting stress to the animals, also because of the energetic whipped at their dates. As soon as the drone pilots provided the coordinates, over twenty policemen reached the place of the race.
Horse Squad cops securely blocked animals to avoid the escape that could have caused accidents with serious repercussions for the same horses, while the agents of the Flying Squad and the Mobile Team blocked one of the jockeys and three people surrounding the man, exulting for victory.
The other participants in the clandestine race were initially able to escape on board the scooters; some of them had misunderstood faces and plaques of the covered means, stratagem used just to not be recognized by the videos often made for pride by the same participants and then published on social. But thanks to the prompt intervention of the Flyers some were stopped shortly after. Two of them were blocked on board a bike and, while the passenger tried to cover the plate with his hand, the driver tried in every way to lose his tracks, accelerating and nailing then abruptly, putting in danger the safety of the cops.
The latter had almost €5,000 in cash and a “pizzino” with the names of bettors; both the money and the lace were subjected to kidnapping as evidence of the organization of the clandestine race. Three other subjects tried to hide in the surroundings, but, thanks to the use of the drone supplied to the State Police, they were identified from above together with the other jockey and the second competitor horse.
With the drone it was also possible to locate one of the trucks used for handling the horses, with on board the two conveyors. All the subjects stopped by the flyers, including the two jockeys, the two carriers and other eleven organizers, were accompanied by the Offices of the Horse Squadron and then being denounced to the Judiciary Authority for mistreatment of animals and for organizing a clandestine race. Among them also two minors, who had the role of inciting horses during the race on board a large displaced scooter.
The horses, as well as prepared thanks to the valuable contribution of the physician of the Veterinary Service of the Department of Prevention of the ASP of Catania, were two English thoroughbreds with microchip; the equids have been subjected to kidnapping and entrusted to a specialized firm that will take care of it. In addition, the two calessi and all the bardatures used for the race were seized, with signs traced to two stables of Messina.
The presence of the Knights of the State Police, specialized in the field, has allowed to carry out a first reconstruction of what happened: the group, consisting of subjects native to the Messina, some of which with precedent for crimes in the matter of clandestine races, had chosen the province of Catania to dispute the race in order to carry out the competition uphill in an isolated place and far from the country of origin.
-Photo screenshot video State Police-
(ITALPRESS).
