Animal Cruelty Charges Filed After Unlicensed Rodeo In Lockport Township: Sheriff

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, IL — A 26-year-old Lockport Township man, Ezequiel Herrera, has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty, after drone video showed animal abuse during an unlicensed rodeo, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said detectives received information about animal abuse happening at an unlicensed rodeo in the 400 block of Oak Avenue in Lockport Township. A representative from the animal rights organization, Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, showed detectives drone footage of animal abuse that happened at the rodeo.

The sheriff's office said detectives were provided a video of drone footage showing various acts of animal cruelty. During the rodeo event, several steers were seen to be in physical distress with injuries, while participants continue to use the steers for the rodeo.

The organization, SHARK, has provided the Will County Sheriff’s Office with drone footage of other animal abuse complaints that have happened at various rodeo events located throughout Will County, the sheriff's office said.

In this footage, an unknown man, since identified by police as Herrera, began to use an electric cattle prod to shock the steers in the face and head. This was done repeatedly in an attempt to make the steers move closer to the alleyway of the door used to release the animals into the arena, the sheriff's office said.

Herrera was later interviewed by detectives, and he admitted to using the cattle prod on the steers at the rodeo event, the sheriff's office said. A criminal complaint summons for Herrera was issued on Wednesday.

Herrera will make his first court appearance on Dec. 15.

Last month, charges were also filed against a horse rider at nearby La Herradura de Joliet Rodeo after SHARK shared video footage with police. The sheriff's office said the video showed the man strike a horse with his hands and whip the animal's face.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office also filed a restraining order against the club that organizes the rodeos.