Viral video shows loose horse struck by car in uptown Charlotte. Two men charged
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two men were charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after uptown incident.
- Videos show their horse was struck by a car in uptown.
- Horses are allowed on Charlotte streets, with some rules attached.
Horses are OK to ride on Charlotte’s city streets, but an incident that’s gone viral produced charges for two men after one of the animals was injured in a crash.
Multiple videos posted on social media this week show horses galloping through city streets after passengers were tossed off. Though uncommon, it isn’t entirely unheard of to see a horse trotting around uptown.
In one video, a horse tripped on a curb and fell over, toppling its rider before running off. In another, a man falls while attempting to stand on a horse’s back. The horse then runs into traffic, where it is struck by a passing car.
The second video appears to capture the moment that prompted a call to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The animal was struck on North College Street shortly before midnight on Friday, according to the police report.
When officers arrived, suspects Desmon Taylor Moore and Deven Tyler Moore, both 27, allegedly “became very irate and started screaming and cussing in the street,” the report said.
Deven Moore allegedly threatened to assault another person and grabbed an officer’s arms, according to court filings. Desmon Moore also physically resisted officers, documents filed with the court allege.
The Moores are scheduled for a hearing on July 22. Both are charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
It’s unclear whether the horse survived the collision. Police did not confirm the horse’s fate when asked by The Charlotte Observer.
Animal Care and Control did not receive a call about the incident, according to spokesperson Melissa Knicely. Its last call for service involving a horse was in November.
Is it legal to ride a horse on Charlotte streets?
Horses are considered vehicles under state law. That means many rules of the road for cars also apply to equines.
While horses aren’t disallowed in city limits, Charlotte has some additional regulations on how they and other animals can be ridden.
For example, it is unlawful to “run, drive or ride any animal in a reckless, disorderly or careless manner through any street, alley or highway.” It’s also against the law to cause a “loose or unhaltered” animal to be driven through the streets and highways.
Notably, DWI laws do not apply to horses, according to the UNC School of Government. So people could technically ride a horse while impaired, ill-advised as it might be.
In another viral TikTok video from 2024, a Charlotte-area man was captured drinking a beer while sitting on a horse outside an ABC liquor store.
“You cannot get a DUI on a horse in the state of North Carolina,” the man said, correctly, in the video. “Look it up. Look it up. I could’ve gotten a DUI when I did my buggy, but I cannot get a DUI on a horse.”
Observer reporter Jeff A. Chamer contributed.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
