Cow leads police on chase through Idaho town

POCATELLO, Idaho, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Police in Idaho said a cow fled a meat-processing plant and led authorities on a chase through the city of Pocatello.

Pocatello police said they received a call about 12:40 p.m. about a "very agitated heifer" on the loose in the northern part of the city and officers responded with backup from Pocatello Animal Services.

The cow rammed an animal services truck and two police vehicles during the ensuing chase, police said.

Authorities managed to corner the cow and shoot it twice, but the wounded heifer managed to continue fleeing despite its injuries.

Police were eventually able to fell the cow with the third shot in the back yard of a home.

Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand said the cow was shot because it was posing a threat to public safety.

Police Lt. Ian Nelson said the chase covered a lot of area, but the cow was not on the loose for very long.

"It was not a very long time, although when you have a thousand pound animal that's running in the streets it can sure seem like a long time," Nelson told KPVI-TV.

The cow's escape is under investigation, police said.