FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday/July 23, 2014

Contact: Stuart Chaifetz   856 428 2635

Update on Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Assault Cases:
One Assailant Identified. Police Use Facebook to Hunt for Identity,

Whereabouts  of 2nd Suspect; Reward Offered by SHARK

CHEYENNE – After a series of assaults here at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, police are using social media to search for a suspect involved in the crimes – and a national animal protection group has put a price on the second suspect's identity.

SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), an animal protection organization documenting animals brutalized and injured at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, is offering a $300 reward for the suspect's identity. He assaulted two young women legally and peaceably videotaping for SHARK.

The first assault happened Thursday, July 17, when a woman grabbed the camera of SHARK investigator Miranda (SHARK is withholding the last names of the victims) and shoved it toward Miranda’s face. At the time, Miranda was filming a calf that had been seriously injured during a roping event.   

By using social media, SHARK has been able to identify the assailant as Cathy Grant. (https://www.facebook.com/cathy.grant.35), the mother of rodeo contestant Morgan Grant https://www.facebook.com/morgan.grant.716. Ms. Grant appeared angry that someone was filming the rodeo and reacted by first standing in front of Miranda to block her view, then physically grabbing Miranda’s camera and assaulting her. SEE: http://youtu.be/ah4bi2wdhWg
 
Miranda filed a police report against the then unknown assailant and on Tuesday July 22, an email was sent to the Cheyenne Chief of Police, Brian Kozak, alerting his department to the assailant's name. SHARK is seeking to have Ms. Grant charged for her assault.

The second assault happened Sunday, July 21.  In that incident, an unknown male assaulted both Miranda and Kate (the second SHARK Investigator).  The suspect, who was much larger than the women, can be seen in the video getting uncomfortably close to Miranda, putting his crotch near her face and leering at her in a highly inappropriate and threatening manner. He then moved to Kate, and angrily grabbed her camera and arm. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN34IWk2Gk

In addition to SHARK's $300 reward for the name of the suspect, his face can be seen on the Cheyenne Police Department’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CheyennePoliceDepartment/photos/a.206978456101534.55181.204342533031793/524291017703608/?type=1&theater.