The California Highway Patrol successfully tracked down a runaway “unicorn” on Wednesday – but not before a nearly four-hour-long ordeal involving officers, a helicopter, thermal imaging technology, and a friendly horse.
Juliet, who is not actually a unicorn, is a white, 600-pound Shetland pony who was outfitted with a prosthetic horn and a fuzzy pink bridle for a photo shoot in Madera Ranchos. During the shoot, Juliet fled, probably because of the stupid horn, and authorities were called in to help – though they did think that the person calling in was high as a kite.
“Initially he thought it might be somebody out there on drugs, seeing things,” said CHP spokesman Josh McConnell. “It was a little unreal to hear calls of a unicorn running around on the roadway.”
The details, via The LA Times:
It took officers three and half hours to round up the pony, using a helicopter with thermal imaging to track down Juliet in an orchard. Then, they needed to use one of the pony’s friends, a horse, to help bring her out of hiding.
The horse whinnied to Juliet, who whinnied back and then ran to her friend, [photographer Sandra] Boos said.
“The unicorn is in custody,” Boos heard on the police radio. As soon as she heard that, she called to tell her 5-and-a-half-year-old daughter, who rides Juliet. Her daughter, Tatum, had been frantic when Juliet ran away, she said.
Boos was given a warning by cops, but not cited.
