CLARE COUNTY, Mich. (WWJ) - A blunder at a fair in West Michigan has taken the life of a law enforcement member after she fell while getting off her horse -- and the horse presumably fell on top of her.
Clare County Sheriff's Office announced Friday evening that mounted division deputy Nichole Shuff died of her injuries after falling from her mount while responding to a medical emergency on Monday at the Clare County Fair.
"It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of one of our great hearted members," the sheriff's office said in a social media post. "Mounted officer Nichole Shuff passed away this afternoon from injuries sustained when her horse lost his footing while she was dismounting to assist someone with a medical need while she was on duty at the Clare Co Fair. She had the kindest heart and loved helping people. She will be greatly missed!!"
Sheriff John Wilson told WJRT earlier in the week that Shuff was attempting to dismount her horse when she fell to the ground and hit her head.
The horse partially fell as well and may have landed on her.
"We know the horse kind of stumbled backwards, there was some uneven ground there," Wilson explained.
The sheriff said it remains unclear if Shuff's injuries were caused by her fall from the saddle or by the force of the horse possibly falling on her.
Either way, Wilson believes the incident was neither the rider or the horse's fault.
Shuff was a two year member of the Clare County Sheriff's Department Mounted Division and Wilson said each deputy and equine officer go through extensive training before they are allowed to be in public.
"Those horses are highly trained, we do a lot of training with them, we introduce them to a lot of sounds and noises, banging and stuff and they are trained to pretty much sit though it," he said to WJRT.
Wilson said Shuff was in critical condition following the incident -- news of her death was officially released Friday evening.
The sheriff's office also announced they will be retiring Shuff's equine partner, Officer Ringo, following her funeral.
"Just before Nichole’s passing, her partner gave her a final ride in the presentation of colors at the fairgrounds. He will be retired from law enforcement after her final ride to be laid to rest," the sheriff's officer said in a heartbreaking post to social media. "He has been her faithful partner for the far too short of time with the mounted division. He done everything possible to try and protect her in the incident."
If you don’t think you build a bond with your partner just know that his eyes have been weeping since the accident," officials added.
The mounted division said their deputies are a popular sight at the Clare County Fair and they have been in attendance for the last 14 years.
"They are a huge asset to the fair, they do traffic control, crowd control, they just, if there is a problem, if there is a fight or something, they can get there pretty quick," Wilson said.
The sheriff said he did not believe the horse spooked because of sounds or noise at the fair.
He called the incident a "freak accident."
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