Ram's Mechanical Bull Ride Found, Sheriff Says It Was Never Stolen To Begin With

Ram

We reported earlier this week that Ram's "Bucking Hemi" thrust was stolen from this year's Roadkill Nights held successful Pontiac, Michigan, past weekend. It seems reports of nan theft of nan ride–which features a V8 motor pinch a ram's caput alternatively of nan contented mechanical bull saddle, but fundamentally operated successful nan aforesaid manner–were greatly exaggerated. At least, according to nan Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The marque made it clear to media that their study of nan missing Bucking Hemi thrust was not a trading stunt. It released flyers online asking for accusation from nan public, and Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis released a connection this week calling nan theft "bull***." It moreover said it was actively moving pinch rule enforcement to way down nan dastardly thief. Ram now says that a supplier accidentally packed up nan thrust during breakdown of Roadkill Nights connected August 9 and transported it 1,200 miles to North Carolina, wherever nan correction was discovered. The thrust is now connected its measurement backmost to Michigan, and Ram claims it was each a large misunderstanding. 

But Michael Bouchard, nan sheriff successful Oakland County, Michigan, wherever nan expected theft took place, besides thinks nan full arena is "bs" but successful an wholly different measurement than Kuniskis; nan cops deliberation Ram ne'er had a theft to statesman with, that nan marque knew wherever nan $34,000 thrust was astatine each times, perchance wasting constabulary clip connected a mendacious report. 

Ram

"We would for illustration to widen our heartfelt acknowledgment to everyone who rallied down america and worked to bring RAM's Bucking HEMI® home. Notably, we are highly grateful and sincerely admit nan Oakland County Sheriff's Office's assistance successful this matter," nan institution said via an charismatic connection to nan press. 

The marque mightiness want to clasp disconnected connected thanking nan Oakland County Sheriff's Office however, arsenic Michael Bouchard told nan Detroit Free Press location was ne'er immoderate theft to statesman with. In fact, nan Oakland County Sheriff's Office says it is now investigating Ram for mendacious reporting of a crime:

Bouchard, whose deputies responded to nan segment of Roadkill Nights aft receiving a larceny report, said Ram's declare that nan mechanical bull was stolen is false.

Bouchard said his detectives person concluded nan "theft ne'er occurred," alleging that nan mechanical bull screen was successful Ram's possession nan full time.

"The institution ne'er really mislaid nan bull," Bouchard said successful a news release. "I find this to beryllium very frustrating and a tremendous discarded of valuable investigative time."

While nan hunt for nan stolen bull has concluded, nan Sheriff's Office is now considering charges.

"Now, we're pivoting to spot if a crime was committed by nan filing of a mendacious constabulary report," Bouchard said.

Yikes. No 1 likes to person their clip wasted, particularly nan sheriff's agency successful a region of 1.2 cardinal residents. And I tin show you from my broadside of this communicative that journalists successful nan automotive biz besides don't emotion a scam successful nan sanction of marketing, either. It wasn't that agelong agone that Volkswagen faced nan industry's ire aft pushing a clone communicative that nan marque was changing its sanction to Voltswagen successful grant of its caller committedness to EVs. We called VW retired connected that one, though we heard from our wrong sources that Ram's missing thrust was not a trading stunt. 

Hopefully, this full arena really was each conscionable 1 large misunderstanding, arsenic filing a mendacious constabulary study of expansive theft (the theft of thing worthy complete $1,000) successful Michigan could beryllium considered a felony. 

Ram told Jalopnik it is successful interaction pinch nan Oakland County Sheriff's office. We will update this station arsenic things proceed to develop.