A racehorse jockey, Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, was apprehended by Louisiana State Police after fleeing during an investigation into cheating allegations at the Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino. As detectives conducted post-race checks, Hernandez-Perez attempted to escape, discarding a battery-operated shocking device into a horse stall.

Following his capture, Hernandez-Perez was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on charges of unnatural stimulation of a horse. Louisiana law prohibits the use of devices that unnaturally stimulate or depress racehorses, extending to all areas where eligible horses are kept.

If convicted, Hernandez-Perez faces significant penalties, including fines between $1,000 and $5,000 and a potential prison sentence of one to five years.