By Ivan Pereira
Neighbors of a south Jamaica block watched in awe as a wild cow chase turned their block into a rodeo arena Wednesday afternoon.
Police said a cow escaped from a slaughterhouse located at 158th Street and Beaver Avenue shortly after 1 p.m. and made its way to 147th Street and 109th Avenue. Steven Khan saw the bovine run down the block into his property as he was taking out the trash.
“It’s not something to you see in South Jamaica,” he said.
Police crews locked the cow inside the gated driveway of Khan’s house and waited for emergency crews who tranquilized the animal. It was later taken to an Animal Care & Control shelter in Brooklyn, according to police.
Imran Asif, 23, who saw the police subdue the cow, said it did not look like the animal posed any danger.
“It was scared. I don’t think it wanted to hurt anyone,” he said.
No one was harmed during the encounter with the animal, according to police. The owners of Musa Halal, where the cow was believed to have originated, could not be reached for comment and workers at the slaughterhouse refused to talk about the incident.
Paul Echols, who lives on the block with Khan and Asif, said he and his fellow neighbors were amazed that the cow made its way to their block.
“We only see raccoons and rats,” the 23-year-old said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
