Rude roper blamed for fracas at Lino Lakes horse stable

A breach in the cowboy code of etiquette likely touched off a brawl Saturday night in Lino Lakes.

Nearly 400 people had gathered at a private stable for drinks, music, horseback riding and rodeo sports when the fist fight broke out, drawing police from several departments.

"Apparently, in calf roping, you just don't rope any calf," said Kelly McCarthy, Lino Lakes deputy police chief. "Some guy was cutting the line and changing the order and that was a faux pas. That is how the initial fracas started."

Tempers flared. Punches were thrown.

And a 911 call was placed, which puzzled police at first.

"The officers thought the initial call was a hoax because there was information about spurs and whips," McCarthy said.

She added that some of the men involved in the fight could be charged with misdemeanors.

Dozens of officers from across Anoka County helped break up the fight, which engaged about 30 men, and then broke up the party at Main Street and Interstate 35W.

One person was arrested after an officer saw him take a swing at someone, McCarthy said. Paramedics treated five people for minor injuries, police said.

Police spent hours arranging rides and calling cabs for attendees, while making sure that horses, calves and steers were secured.

Officers ensured all the animals were accounted for, McCarthy said. "We made sure the fencing was all intact and made sure people were brought in to care for the animals.

"We felt good about leaving the scene the way we did."

Anthony Caron owns the 10-acre property and grew up there. He and his wife turned it into a horse stable before moving to the south suburbs, and have rented the stable out to a local family for about six years.

Caron said his tenant, whom he declined to name, boards horses on the property and has hosted events before. Caron said he'd like to keep the tenant but that events there will have to be toned down.

"When something like this happens, it puts you on edge," he said.

McCarthy said Monday they had seen peaceful events at the property on other occasions and were not interested in shutting anything down. But she said that organizers needed to follow the rules.

City ordinance requires that outdoor parties larger than 50 people have a permit.

"In the past, it's been peaceful. People really enjoyed it. You don't want to have one incident wreck it for somebody else. We will work with everyone to find the best way forward," McCarthy said.

Police said last weekend's gathering included equestrian events and a birthday bash with a live band from Denver.

"It was a more party atmosphere than a horse training, equestrian atmosphere," McCarthy said. "It was clear there was alcohol was being consumed. We didn't have any evidence it was being sold there."

City leaders said they will consider whether they need to tighten any rules after the investigation is over.

Shannon Prather • 612-673-4804