MASON CITY – A man who was banned from owning or caring for horses due to neglect once again has more horses, and people are phoning authorities seeking answers.
Ralph Stricker, 92, faced a charge of animal neglect causing serious injury or death after a horse he owned died on his property on February 5, 2013. Stricker was arrested that day and originally charged with simple misdemeanor animal neglect. The charge was later upgraded.
Stricker later pled guilty to livestock neglect and other charges and a judge decreed that Striker must “REMOVE PERMANENTLY ALL ANIMALS OF HUSBANDRY INCLUDING HORSES” from his property. This turned into a one year ban, and he seemed to evaporate out of the public consciousness.
However, Stricker’s career of of being is possession appears to be back in business, as over the last few days, onlookers have noticed, again, horses on Stricker’s property. Law enforcement has been notified, and the sheriff’s office appears to be responding.
“Ralph [Stricker] was banned for one year in Magistrate Court” from owning horses, Sheriff Kevin Pals tells NIT. “We have had several complaints since the animals are back. We have checked several tiems. All the animals are cared for when we have checked. He also has family members helping him.”
Back on that bitterly cold week in February of 2013, Ralph Stricker was informed that one of his horses was either sick or hurt and stuck in a muddy field in bitterly cold weather. Striker said he would check on it.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s office was notified, and they were keeping an eye on the female, pregnant horse. She was being seen by a veterinarian, being fed, given water and being kept warm, NIT was told then.
A couple of days later, the horse was still lying in the field, exposed to the cold with no shelter, and could not get up to walk. She was laying on her side at first, but when she tried to move, she had to drag herself by her front legs. Concerned citizens gathered at he scene on county road B20 just west of Highway 65 and demanded action be taken.
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Koob said at the time, “I do believe that the horse is suffering. We either need to help the horse or she needs to be put down. There are not any charges yet. We have been out to this farm numerous times, between 50-75 calls have came in about animal neglect. We are legally bound because the owner will not give up owners rights. The Humane Society of North Iowa has been contacted and a horse rescue has been notified.”
As this all unfolded, the incident became even more tense when a local troublemaker / neighbor / helper of Stricker’s, Monte Neubauer, approached onlookers in an aggressive manner at the scene and confronted concerned citizens who were waiting for law enforcement to take action. A deputy intervened to force him to back off.
As reported, the horse later died and Stricker was jailed and charged.
PREVIOUSLY GUILTY AND BANNED FROM OWNING HORSES
Ha Monte if you only knew that the driver of that truck could kick your butt with one roundhouse you idiot.
Worthless deputy dog must have complained to Matt – see article was replaced by just fine government owned husky. All BS.
Steve – what is the location of this dog?
He’s on N. Iowa st corner grey house. The dog is left in a kennel right by the alley. You can’t miss it with his brand new cruiser that just sits there . Last I knew the other deputy across the st west of him also has a k9 that sits in his kennel with a tarp over it. You can hear it bark alot. Sad
Well STEVE! Why does’nt the Sheriffs department do something about it -AND I would be very surprised if T.J. DAVIS was EVER informed or has knowledge of this _ But I will make him aware of this fact shortly- The Sheriffs dept is an institution of its own in worthless county and takes care of its own. If you had any balls you would report this incident. Feel the BURN. He’s a demorat joke too.
Many citizen’s have reported it Nothing has been done of course. My complaint would also go unanswered as well for the simple fact because he’s a deputy. I, and many people are tired of it.
We have a situation here in Worth County (you know – kasino mony- we really do not have a animal control department per say and a lot of BS flowed down the river years ago and still no proper results. The one and only T.J. Davis has been our soldier and county animal humane department for several years. Investing his time and energy and money to help out everytime a situation arises- which is often – he has the knowledge and experience for the task and does not take his unappointed job. lightly. People (and the worth county sheriffs department know who to call if there is an animal in need – Yet! get this – with all the free money floating around – T.J. NEVER receives any money from this worthless county. It’s a flat out SHAME to see our elected county officals not helping this retired US ARMY veteran (and he’s not a spring chicken by any means) . Come on – Man up and help this person out instead of bad mouthing him. PS you supervisors have gift to give to our local big businesses but cannot help out the poor animals and their herdsman? SHAMEFUL -SHAMEFUL!
Why doesn’t TJ.. Davis HELP out that poor old dog that sits in its kennel day in day out in this cold weather that belongs to a sheriffs deputy here in manly? Apparently some citizens here have turned him in but nothing happens. Why has this been allowed to happen? There is another police k9.. bomb dog that also sits in its kennel . It’s a disgrace.
I don’t remember reading that the horse three years ago was pregnant. I went back to the prior article and didn’t see it. Did I miss something?
Oh my another chapter in this ole mans life. We don’t have to worry about methbauer as hes in jail, but its scary as methbauer likes hores and it isn’t for putting a saddle on them. (riding) Ralph you need to retire for good and enjoy life.