Unverified Theft Claim: Sheriff Disputes Theft of Ram's High-Powered Engine, Labelling It a Hoax
In an unexpected turn of events, the Oakland County Sheriff's Department is no longer investigating the theft of a custom $34,000 mechanical bull, known as the "Bucking Hemi," from Ram's Roadkill Nights event stand in Pontiac, Michigan. The bull, which made a 1,200-mile roundtrip journey to North Carolina and has now returned home, was mistakenly taken by one of the show contractors.
The incident was initially reported as a theft, leading Ram's representatives to believe it had been stolen. However, the contractor who took the bull did not come forward for nearly 72 hours, causing a flurry of activity among authorities and Ram's PR team. Ram's spokesperson, Noah Thanos, thanked everyone who helped recover the "Bucking Hemi" and expressed gratitude to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office for their assistance.
The "Bucking Hemi," a symbol of horsepower and rebellion, was initially considered stolen after it vanished during disassembly on the evening of Saturday, August 9, following a Ram-sponsored event at Roadkill Nights. In response, Ram distributed "missing" flyers via social media to help locate the bull. The bull was returned to Ram early Thursday morning.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed frustration, stating that Ram never actually lost the bull and called the situation a tremendous waste of investigative time. Authorities are now considering whether a false police report was filed. Sheriff Bouchard even suggested that the department might pursue Stellantis, Ram's parent company, for filing a false report.
The contractor who took the "Bucking Hemi" realized the error after media coverage brought it to their attention. The bull made its way to North Carolina before the contractor saw media reports that it had gone missing. Despite the misunderstanding, the "Bucking Hemi" is back where it belongs, ready to buck again at future events.
As for the cost to Ram beyond the initial cost of the "Bucking Hemi," no further information is provided in the article. Nevertheless, the company can rest easy knowing their prized mechanical bull is back and ready to entertain crowds once more.
- Ram's PR team decided to utilize social media to distribute "missing" flyers about the "Bucking Hemi" after its disappearance.
- In the world of movies and TV, this situation with Ram's mechanical bull could serve as an interesting case study in entertainment and public relations.
