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Man Busted For Riding Horse Across Outerbridge Crossing Arrested

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York City police have arrested an 80-year-old man who gained national fame by riding his horse around the country saying he was a cowboy who wanted to help hungry children.

Police say Tod "Doc'' Mishler, of Ulster Park, was taken into custody Thursday morning, three days after riding his horse across the Outerbridge Crossing linking New Jersey with Staten Island.

The incident caused major delays for people trying to cross the bridge.

Mishler was issued two criminal court summonses: one for trespass and one for impeding traffic.

Animal advocates say Mishler is a homeless man who abused the various horses that took him on what he says is his God-sent mission. They say he didn't feed them properly, exhausted them and gave them painful saddle sores.

The two horses he brought to New York were seized Monday so veterinarians could examine them.

New charges against him were pending.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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