A large bull was running loose along Highway 35 in San Mateo County on Tuesday evening, and deputies spent hours trying to bring it under control before calling in outside help.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office initially responded to assist the California Highway Patrol after the animal was spotted on the busy road. According to the sheriff's department, repeated attempts to corral the bull failed over the course of several hours. Deputies eventually decided to call someone with the right expertise.
That person was Samuel Ramos Palomino, a foreman at Sea Horse Ranch in Half Moon Bay with 35 years of experience working with large animals. Palomino was asleep when deputies reached him shortly after midnight. He had to be at work at 4 a.m. He got up anyway, prepared his truck and livestock trailer, and drove out to help.
What followed was a chase that covered several miles. Palomino worked alongside Sheriff's Office deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, making repeated attempts to lasso the bull as the group followed the animal down the road. Eventually, the team managed to secure the animal. Palomino then used his experience to load the bull safely into his trailer.
He went further still, providing a secure location to hold the bull until it could be returned home at daybreak. By the time the operation was finished, it was approximately 2:30 a.m., leaving Palomino about 90 minutes before he needed to be up for work.
The sheriff's department said Palomino likely prevented a serious collision or injury on the highway that night. Coastside Patrol Bureau Capt. Allen and Half Moon Bay City Manager Chidester later met with Palomino in person to thank him.
"Samuel, thank you for answering ours," the department said. "Your skill, courage, and willingness to help made the Coastside a safer place that night."
