A roving group of rogue bovines led police on a slow pursuit before they crashed a backyard party recently in Boxford.
Lt. James Riter said he responded to a call for some loose cows in the street about 9 p.m. Sunday. When he arrived at the reported location of the escaped cows he found “evidence” of their presence there.
He drove down the road a bit until he caught up with the six cows who made their way to the backyard of a house.
“The cows had come around the corner where a group of young adults was sitting out at a table having a few beers on a nice night,” said Riter, a 21-year-veteran who has previously been chased by goats and turkeys while at work.
Riter said he heard some amused screams that led him to the backyard where he found the cows at the table, which the group of young women had fled for the safety of a nearby deck.
At least one of the cows was drinking beer that had spilled when they knocked over the cans and cups.
When asked what was the reaction of the homeowner and visitors, Riter said it was wonderment.
“Imagine that bunch of people sitting out on a nice night and the next thing they know they are joined by a herd of cows that drank their beer,” he said.
Police were able to contact the cows’ owner who came to the home with a
friend. Armed with a bucket of grain, the owner was able to coax the
cows to the front yard.
Riter and another officer rode in cruisers position at the front and
rear of the herd while the owner coaxed them a mile up the road back to
their enclosure.
No one was hurt and the only damage was to some chewed up grass and plants.
