Man who freed 12 horses at Stark fairgrounds not guilty

— A man who let CANTON more than a dozen racehorses loose in January at the Stark County Fairgrounds has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Jonathan D. Ford, 28, had been charged with inducing panic, breaking and entering and vandalism, fourthand fifth-degree felonies.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa Hartnett made the ruling Tuesday at a bench trial, according to court records. Ford had voluntarily waived his right to a jury trial and instead requested he be tried by Hartnett.

The ruling means based on the evaluations of mental health professionals, Hartnett found the defendant was clinically insane at the time of the incident involving the horses.

A Canton police officer also testified at Tuesday morning’s bench trial.

A status hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22 in the case. The judge set conditions for Ford, including he continue to take medication and he be monitored.

In June, Hartnett had ordered Pyscho-Diagnostic Clinic to provide an assessment of mental health treatment and placement alternatives. A report was to follow.

Earlier this year, the horses roamed the city’s west side after Ford let the animals out of a barn at the fairgrounds, police said.

One of the horses later died after falling into the icy water at Meyers Lake. Canton Township firefighters tried a rescue but it drowned before it could be reached.

One Canton police officer fell on ice and broken his ankle.

Police and firefighters from several area departments, assisted by fairgrounds employees, 4-H Club members and people with horses from other barns, managed to round up 14 other Standardbred racehorses that were released and wandering area streets. Within hours, the horses were returned to the barn and seen by a veterinarian.

Area trainers and owners board horses at the fairgrounds, which is operated by the Stark County Agricultural Society. The animals were harness racing horses.

Ford, whose address is listed as Salem in court records, formerly lived in Canton. Police had said Ford told them the horses wanted or needed to be freed.

He had been charged with breaking and entering for going into the barn, inducing panic for causing traffic problems and disrupting public service because police and firefighters had to scurry to find the horses.