Fort Pierre Man to Appear in Court in October For July Theft and Injuries to Rodeo Horse, Court Papers *justice for Dually*

Following Tuesday’s arrest of a Fort Pierre man on charges linked to the theft and injuries to a rodeo horse in July, those close to the horse “Dually” say they’re glad to hear that the case is moving forward.  Travis Bechen, the boyfriend of Dually’s owner Wendy Halweg, says news that an arrest has been made was good to hear. (read more and view court papers)

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Fort Pierre man arrested in Dually horse-theft case *justice for dually*

By David Montgomery
Capital Journal staff
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 – 05:47:43 pm CDT

FORT PIERRE — A 22-year-old Fort Pierre man was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing a rodeo horse named Dually and treating him inhumanely.

Flint David Dahl is charged with grand theft, a felony, and inhumane treatment of an animal, a misdemeanor.

Grand theft is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment in a state penitentiary and a fine of up to $20,000. Inhumane treatment of an animal is punishable by up to one year in a county jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
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Dahl turned himself in Tuesday afternoon and was released after posting $5,000 bond.

No court date has been set.

An affidavit by Stanley County Deputy Sheriff Mike Rothschadl cites interviews with witnesses claiming to have seen Dahl riding a horse through Fort Pierre early in the morning of July 5. Several witnesses heard or saw the horse kicking vehicles and told investigators they saw the horse with numerous wounds.

Dually was recovered on Dahl’s father’s property.

Multiple witnesses present at the fairgrounds around 4 a.m. July 5 told investigators they had seen one individual — who was not charged — riding the horse around a pen. Dahl, who was present at the time, told investigators he took the horse believing it belonged to another friend who was present.

That individual denied telling Dahl the horse was his and said he did not know Dahl well, the affidavit said.

After Dahl left the fairgrounds riding Dually, numerous witnesses reported seeing Dahl and the horse around Fort Pierre between 5:45 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., including at a house on Two Rivers Street, a nearby house on Wandel Avenue, the sidewalk on Deadwood Street and outside the Cowboy Country Store on First Street.

Several witnesses reported seeing Dually with significant wounds, including bleeding legs, cuts and missing horse shoes. Witnesses also reported seeing Dahl riding the horse while it was injured.

Veterinarian Dr. Steve Tornberg told investigators Dually had suffered rope burns, minor lacerations, a quarter crack in a hoof and sore suspensory ligaments. Tornberg said he had not seen a horse with rope burns that numerous or serious in 30 years.

In the months since the incident, Halweg has said Dually is slowly recovering. Dually was released from the veterinary clinic Aug. 5.

The investigation into Dually’s disappearance took almost three months before an arrest warrant was signed. The affidavit shows interviews conducted through July 13 by Stanley County Sheriff’s Deputies and as recently as Sept. 16 by agents with the state Division of Criminal Investigation.

Later interviews appear to have been focused on tracking down false leads in the case. Investigators interviewed several people tracing the origin of a text message claiming Dually had been deliberately abused by being roped and dragged across the pavement.

DCI agents interviewed multiple people who claimed to have knowledge about how Dually received his injuries.

“None of these people were eyewitnesses and had merely repeated what they had heard,” the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Dahl’s father Dave Dahl paid $2,400 for damage Dually had done to a car after Dahl had tied it up next to the vehicle.

As part of the investigation, DCI agents obtained Flint Dahl’s cell phone records on Sept. 15. One witness whose phone was called by Dahl early July 5 said Dahl had left voice mail messages talking about a horse.

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Abuse Of Rodeo Horse *justice for Dually* Video

A major new development today in the case of the abused rodeo horse “Dually”.

An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for Flint David Dahl of Fort Pierre. He is facing one count of grand theft, an alternative count of grand theft and one count of inhumane treatment of an animal.

Action News Reporter Derick Fabert was in Mitchell, where Dually’s owners live, and he joined us Tuesday’s KSFY Action News Live At 6 with the latest information.

“We are at the rodeo grounds north of Mitchell. It’s similar to the Fort Pierre grounds.
We do have pictures of Dually’s injuries and we want to warn you that some of these pictures can be a bit disturbing.” (read more)

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Man Charged In Horse Theft, Abuse Case *Justice for Dually*

It’s taken nearly three months, but finally authorities have charged someone for alleged abuse of Dually the Rodeo Horse. It’s a case we’ve been following for several weeks now.

An arrest warrant was issued for Flint Dahl of Fort Pierre on Tuesday. He’s been charged with two counts of grand theft and one count of inhumane treatment of an animal.

According to court papers, Dahl admits taking the horse the morning of July 5. (read more)

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Arrest warrant issued in Dually horse-theft case *Justice for Dually*

By David Montgomery
Capital Journal staff
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 – 01:50:17 pm CDT

FORT PIERRE — An arrest warrant has been issued in the case of a rodeo horse which was recovered injured after disappearing from his pen after the Fort Pierre Fourth of July Rodeo.

Flint David Dahl, of Fort Pierre, is charged with grand theft, a felony, and inhumane treatment of an animal, a misdemeanor. (read more)

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Tie-down roping contestants’ rodeo limit expanded to 100

The number of rodeos a tie-down roping contestant can officially count toward his world standings in 2010 was raised from 70 to 100 during last week’s PRCA Board of Directors Meeting in Omaha, Neb.

All other timed events will retain the limit of 70.

There was also a change in the guidelines for rodeos that want co-approval for two or more PRCA circuits, requiring a minimum added purse of $5,000 per event — up from $3,500 a year ago. (read more)

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Cowboy’s ride sends him to retirement

JOHN GRANT EMEIGH Montana Standard | Posted: Monday, September 28, 2009 11:05 pm

BUTTE – After 50 years of riding bucking broncos and bulls, Billy Stockton decided this was the year he would hang up his saddle.

But not before the 64-year-old cowboy experienced a few more rides.

On June 28, at a rodeo in Drummond, a frisky bronco retired him early.

“I just got on one horse too many,” Stockton said.

Don’t bother asking Stockton what happened that day. He doesn’t remember…(read more)

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Graves ‘on top of the world’ at Justin Boots Championships

OMAHA, Neb. — Steer wrestler Lee Graves says he feels like he’s “on the top of the world,” which seems only fair. After two nights’ work at the Justin Boots Championships he is on top of the world.

After winning both rounds at the Qwest Center in identical times of 3.3 seconds — and the two-head average — Graves has earned $17,421, pushing him past Jake Rinehart atop the PRCA World Standings by more than $15,000.

“When it’s your time, it’s your time,” Graves said, “and when you get in these grooves, you’ve just got to ride it out as long as you can. Don’t change anything and just back in there and win as much as you can.

“I’ve been on both ends of it and been where you can’t make a right turn or do anything right, but I’m just lucky my horse (Jessie) is working great.”

Graves was at that other end of things a year ago when he tore the patella (read more)

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Diaz enjoys ‘biggest win’ at Justin Boots Championships

Courtesy PRCA

 

OMAHA, Neb. — Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz had seen MJM Rodeo’s Little Stone on television many times over the years and was always impressed by what he saw. She was even better live.

The 16-year-old bay mare, a four-time veteran of the Wrangler NFR, carried Diaz to “the biggest win I’ve ever had,” on Saturday night at the $835,000 Justin Boots Championships in the Qwest Center.

Diaz, of Stephenville, Texas, earned a score of 86 points to edge J.J. Elshere by a single point to earn the $13,251 final-round prize and a total of $21,523 for the weekend.

“Guys dream of just being in this position, and I’m just blessed,” Diaz said…(read more)

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Lindsay Sears repeats as Omaha barrel racing champ

OMAHA, Neb. – It was like she was never gone.

Riding her famed horse Martha for the first time in three weeks, Lindsay Sears won the barrel racing at the Justin Boots Championships for the second year in a row.

The Canadian cowgirl, who qualified out of the semifinals third, put up at time of 13.85 seconds in the final round to win the title.

The Justin Boots Championships was the culmination of the PRCA’s Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Series.

The 2009 regular season ends Sept. 30, with the exception of this November’s Heartland Series in Waco, Texas.

Sears, the reigning world champion, was the high-money winner at the Qwest Center, pocketing $32,786. The money won during the weekend pull Sears within $1,200 of world standings leader Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas. Both have almost won $160,000 this year.

“She just loves Omaha,” Sears said of her nine-year-old sorrel mare. (read more)

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