Man accused of dragging horse has preliminary hearing set

Regional News

A Kearney man accused of cruelty to an animal for dragging a horse behind his trailer delayed a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday. 21 year old Tyler Brockman of Kearney is charged with cruel neglect of an animal in Dawson county and driving under the influence in Buffalo county. Brockman's attorney filed a notice of entry appearance and the court set a preliminary hearing for August 10th at 11:15 a.m. Although the animal cruelty case has stirred deep emotions in the area, Dawson county attorney Liz Waterman said she won't prepare any differently for this case than any other. Brockman participated in the Sumner Rodeo on July 4th. Witnesses reported seeing Brockman leaving the rodeo on Highway 40 east of Sumner with a horse tied behind a trailer. The horse was being dragged. One of the witnesses stopped Brockman who put the animal in the trailer and left. A short time later, Brockman was stopped by a Buffalo county sheriff's deputy and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Two days later, authorities found the horse dead on a farm field eight miles north of Funk in Phelps county. Officials say Brockman worked for the owner of the property.