photo courtesy of SHARK
SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), president, Steve Hindi, was pulled over by Sheriff deputies in Oregon after being kicked out of the Big Loop Rodeo in Jordan Valley on May 19th of this year for not having “proper ID.” Hindi arrived in Oregon after another SHARK member had been violently arrested for videotaping the rodeo on May 18th. The announcer at the rodeo tells the spectators that videotaping by media and animal activists is prohibited but allowed by family and friends of those participating in the horse tripping events.
Check out Hindi’s video when he was stopped by Sheriff deputies-http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6f5_1376349051
Hindi was pulled over 10 miles away from the rodeo by Sheriff’s deputies, Brian Beck and Brian Belnap. Hindi was stopped without any legal cause and was detained at the stop until they declared he was “permanently trespassed” from the Jordan Valley Rodeo and would be arrested if he should return. Hindi openly videotaped the traffic stop while the Sheriff deputies’ dash board and body camera were also taping.
SHARK has video-documented horrific acts of animal cruelty at the rodeo known as “horse tripping” at this rodeo last year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmp8pkbU03I. Horse tripping involves rodeo riders roping horses around their legs which causes them to fall with many suffeing broken legs, backs or necks and psychological trauma. A cruel and inhumane “sport” indeed. A video taken last year by SHARK of the Big Loop Rodeo performing these acts went viral and sparked a movement in the Oregon legislature to ban horse tripping.
As a result, the bill to ban horse tripping in Oregon was passed on June 25, 2013 but the law won’t go into effect until January 1st, 2014. The law pertains to horse tripping that occurs for entertainment or sport. It will not affect legitimate ranch work. Horse tripping has been banned in 11 other states.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the National Pro Rodeo Association do not feature horse tripping as a sanctioned event.
Hindi, a seasoned animal activist, is no stranger to being bullied or ignored by law enforcement. He knew there was more to the story and obtained the camera recordings from the Sheriff’s deputies. You can see firsthand the videos SHARK has sent me from the Sheriff’s dashboard camera and body camera.
You will hear the deputies admitting they didn’t want to pull him over. They also said the reason for the stop was due to the Jordan Valley Rodeo board. They can also be heard plotting a reason for why they stopped Hindi to justify their illegal action. They can be heard saying they will most likely be sued for what they did to him.
Of particular interest comes at the end of the video when one says, “Dammit, I was still recording!”, knowing what they just said was evidence of wrongdoing.
“The Sheriff’s deputies openly spoke about their misconduct because they simply forgot they were being recorded,” states Hindi. “First they stalked me by following me for 10 miles after I left the rodeo, then they held me without cause while conspiring to plot a reason for the illegal stop. Finally they threatened me with arrest if I ever returned to the rodeo. Police are given extraordinary powers and when they abuse that power, and act like armed security for a private business, as the Malheur County officers did for the Big Loop Rodeo, they must be held accountable.”
SHARK is filing an official complaint against the Malheur County Sheriff’s department with both the Oregon Attorney General and the United States Justice Department. SHARK is calling for all the officers involved with these incidents be immediately suspended. The complaint contains more details of the Sheriff’s Department ties to the rodeo. http://www.sharkonline.org/images/handouts/AttorneyGeneralRosenblumComplaint.pdf
It certainly appears what the Sheriff’s department is doing is illegal since SHARK president, Steve Hindi, did nothing wrong. As the audio on these videos clearly depict, the Sheriff’s office and the Rodeo are out to get Mr. Hindi so they may break the law and continue to torture horses for “entertainment” purposes. Hopefully, an investigation will stop any further intimidation tactics and unlawful traffic stops by the Sheriff’s department.
Lastly, we need to make sure horse tripping stops at the Big Loop Rodeo. This form of animal cruelty must cease and desist. They are the ones who will continue to break the law and get away with it if nothing is done.
This rodeo and the people who run it are so backwards. It doesn’t occur to them that horses can hurt and feel pain. They’re morons as are others who run similar rodeos. Thank you Steve, and your team, for watching out for them. Horses are so beautiful. To treat me so cruel makes me want to scream or shake those who do this.
Seeing the horse with the broken leg and they don’t care. I hope they meet a similar fate. I couldn’t keep watching as my heart breaks to see horses being openly abused and the crowd, the rodeo clowns, the police, nobody cares except animal activists. Go SHARK!
Crooked police watching out for the rodeo that abuses horses. They need to be fired immediately!!
It’s asstounding how arrogant police are. Throwing their weight around and trying to scare Hindi away. Telling him he didn’t present ID was so ridiculous. They’re not too smart. That’s why they have guns. These police don’t deserve to wear a badge. Intimidating people will come back to bite them in the butt. Plus, they don’t care about the abuse of horses. What’s wrong with people?
Way to go Steve! You got them tied at the legs and they’re falling and they can’t get up!
Finally, police get caught throwing their weight around and unalawfully harrassing a private citizen who is looking out for the horses. It’s so sickening to always hear how people treat animals. People like this don’t give a damn that animals get seriously hurt or die for entertainment. Does anyone know how sick that sounds? They will have to stop when the law takes effect despite thinking they’re above the law.
What is this? I never even knew about this kind of event. I’m appalled this is done. Only evil people could do this to an animal. Let’s see someone tie their legs together and make them fall and squirm. This is why I hate people so much.
The police have been caught red-handed, so I hope the Justice Dep’t removes the offending officers. They pulled over a person for no reason except to scare him away which clearly didn’t work. What they did back-fired on them by using the officer’s own words. I’m sick to death of corruption. Blatant corruption that is used to allow animals to be hurt for others to enjoy. These people have sick, distorted minds. But they make Hindi to be the nutty one. They knew all about him and realize what was going to happen next. The police being on the side of the perpetrators sounds familiar. The same thing is happening in Berks County, PA with the pigeon shoots. The police did nothing when Hindi was struck by a driver who was going to the pigeon shoot. Again, they don’t care that animals are being injured badly and have to die a lingering, painful death. When will this corruption end?
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Corruption at its best.
The big tough guys going after the small guys. Yeah, that looks real good. The Justice Dept better do something to make this right. To be banned, I guess, is the rodeo’s right but to say Hindi didn’t have proper ID and he trespassed illegally isn’t credible or lawful. To be pulled over for doing nothing except to harrass Hindi is unlawful and illegal. Justice Dept, do the right thing!
Crooked cops trying to get away with bullying those who want to help animals. Someone, please fire these police officers!
Question is, will the Justice Dept do anything about this?
WE shall see.
Unbeleivable.
Right on, SHARK!!!
I’m so sick of law enforcement not doing their jobs. I’m sick of animals suffering because the law won’t be upheld by those in charge. They are a disgrace to their positions. They’re not the least bit embarrassed.
Keep up the great work, SHARK!
Come on, hassling a private citizen for no good reason. It’s time to get rid of those who hide behind their badges and badger those who want to help the voiceless.
Thank you Steve,and please keep up the good work for those animals.
THANKS SO MUCH STEVE.