Man who fled on horse pleads not guilty

BUNNELL, Fla., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A Florida man accused of evading police while on horseback and causing a train to stop to avoid hitting him pleaded not guilty, officials said.

Charles Larkin Cowart, 29, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in circuit court to charges of with interfering with railroad tracks or equipment and fleeing or attempting to elude police, both third-degree felonies, and misdemeanor counts of obstructing an officer without violence and cruelty to animals, The Daytona Beach (Fla.) News-Journal reported Wednesday.

Prosecutors said Bunnell police received a call Sept. 24 about a drunken man on horseback and when officers arrived, Cowart refused to dismount and reared the horse "in an aggressive manner." He rode through town, causing a train to stop to avoid hitting him on some tracks, and was arrested after dismounting in a wooded area.

Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano asked Cowart if he would be interested in a drug court program that could lead to the charges being dropped if he completes a process of support groups, treatment sessions and random drug testing. Cowart said he would discuss the possibility with his public defender.