What started as a routine night at a Belleview rodeo on July 5 reportedly turned into a wild scene involving a horse, a foot chase, and a second getaway car. Deputies say a man tried to run a woman over with a horse around 10 p.m., then fled the area before being cornered and arrested. Authorities identified the suspect as 45-year-old Antonio Castillo-Ortega, who was booked into custody following the incident.
What deputies say happened
According to FOX 35 Orlando, deputies were called to the rodeo after a woman reported that Castillo-Ortega splashed beer on her and then tried to run her over while he was on horseback. FOX 35 reports that deputies say he attempted to leave the scene in a vehicle but was blocked by a Marion County Fire Rescue ambulance, then took off into a wooded area before he was eventually found and arrested. The outlet reports he was booked on domestic aggravated assault, domestic simple battery, and resisting arrest without violence.
How deputies say he fled and was caught
Local reporting on the arrest affidavit describes a white pickup truck towing a red trailer with the horse leaving the event, with the driver then abandoning the truck and running into nearby woods, as detailed by Voice of South Marion. The affidavit states that the Marion County Sheriff's Office Air Unit later spotted him getting into the backseat of a white sedan near SE 36th Avenue. Deputies say he braced himself inside the car before they pulled him out and handcuffed him. Witnesses told investigators the horse had been used in a way capable of causing great bodily harm, according to the affidavit, and Castillo-Ortega reportedly told detectives he ran because he was afraid of going to jail.
Charges and legal context
Officials have booked Castillo-Ortega on multiple felony counts, according to FOX 35 Orlando. That matters in Florida, where aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill is classified as a third-degree felony and aggravated battery involving a deadly weapon is classified as a second-degree felony. Those definitions and penalties are outlined in Chapter 784 of the Florida Statutes.
What remains unclear
Authorities have not publicly said whether Castillo-Ortega and the woman knew each other, or what injuries, if any, resulted from the encounter. Local reports also note that officials have not released information about the horse's condition or a scheduled court date. Voice of South Marion reports the affidavit includes a reference to a prior deportation and a possible alias, details that investigators logged while processing the case. The Marion County Sheriff's Office is listed as the source of the arrest information, and any further developments are expected to show up in official filings or updated booking records.
