Trooper Fires Shots At Horse On A Highway In Chester County

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — New details emerged Wednesday in the criminal case of a state trooper charged with causing the death of a horse by driving a patrol car over the horse on U.S. Route 1 in Lower Oxford Township.

Cpl. Michael Perillo, 51, Warminster, Bucks County, fired five shots toward the horse, striking at least once in the left rib cage, according to investigators, according to a news release issued Tuesday from the Chester County District Attorney’s office.

District Attorney Deb Ryan said no one is above the law, and her office will hold the defendant accountable for his actions.”

“The horse that was loose on U.S.- 1 last December suffered a tortured death at the hands of Cpl. Michael Perillo," Ryan said. “Inflicting such pain on an innocent animal is unthinkable and inexcusable.”

Perillo is accused of causing the death of a horse that escaped from an Amish farm near the Lancaster County line.

He is free on $50,000 bail after being arraigned Friday before District Judge Scott Massey in the Chester County Justice Center. A preliminary hearing is scheduled next month.

Perillo was suspended without pay, pending resolution of the case.

Perillo, assigned to Troop J based in Avondale, responded to a report just before midnight on Dec. 28, 2021 to assist at an incident involving a loose horse on the roadway between Routes 10 and 472.

According to a report from Chester County prosecutors:

The horse had been struck by a car, causing damage to the vehicle, but no injuries to anyone.

One trooper unsuccessfully tried to capture the horse using a makeshift rope and jumper cables.

The horse detoured on the southbound lane on-ramp in the direction of Route 10 and the troopers’ car followed it onto the ramp.

Perillo arrived at the on-ramp from Route 10 with his emergency lights activated, blocking the horse between two vehicles.

The horse halted then tried to go around Perillo’s car.

Perillo repositioned his car, but the horse tried to go around it again. Perillo used his front bumper to hit the horse’s right leg.

The horse reversed direction and headed toward U.S. 1 and the troopers’ car, where a trooper stood holding the makeshift rope in his right hand and his firearm in his left.

The trooper fired in the animal’s direction five times, striking it at least once in the left rib cage.

Perillo followed the running horse and struck it four times in the legs with his vehicle, with the horse landing on the hood the fourth time.

He then struck the horse a fifth time when the horse fell from the hood.

When the horse tried to stand up, Perillo struck it a sixth time, driving his car on top of the animal.

Because the horse was still breathing, one of the other troopers present euthanized it.

Driving his vehicle, Perillo then pinned the horse to the pavement, Perillo’s car has nearly $9,000 in damages.

Perillo enlisted in the state police in September 2006. State police launched the investigation in March.

Assistant District Attorney Kate Wright is the assigned prosecutor.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 2 before Massey.