Pasadena man accused of fleeing mounted Ocean City Police, causing horse to collide with tree

A Pasadena man ran circles around mounted Ocean City police officers, caused one of the horses to collide with a tree and sprinted into traffic on Coastal Highway before being arrested, according to court records.

Police records show Cooper Vann Choney, 19, of Pasadena, was trespassing in a CVS parking lot. Officer Sierra Thompson and Cpl. Matthew Foreman were patrolling the area of 120th Street and Coastal Highway on horses around 10:20 p.m. on June 6, following reports of “large crowds of disorderly individuals,” according to court documents.

The officers found a group of people standing in the parking lot of the CVS in the 12000 block of Coastal Highway, in what police said is a trespass enforcement area. The two officers instructed them to leave the parking lot or risk being arrested, charging documents show.

Many obliged, but Choney did not, according to police documents. He stood in the lot until officers and their horses were up close to him, police said.

Court records say Choney told police, “You’re messing with the wrong guy.”

Foreman grabbed Choney’s backpack, attempting to arrest him, but he broke free.

While officers called for backup and told Choney he was being arrested, he was running in circles around the police horses and trees, police said. According to court documents, Choney made the horse Thompson was riding, named Storm, run into a tree.

Choney ran into the third lane of Coastal Highway, which police said was congested that Friday night. Police said Choney laughed while he led them on.

Choney was charged with trespassing, interfering with a police animal and resisting arrest, per online court documents. Choney had no attorney listed in online court records at the time of publication. Ocean City Police did not respond to a request for comment.

Online court documents show Choney was released on recognizance last Saturday. His next court appearance is in Worcester District Court on July 13. He faces up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine for trespassing; six months incarceration or a $5,000 fine for interfering with a police animal; and up to three years imprisonment or a $5,000 fine for resisting arrest.