Not Stolen: Sheriff Claims Ram’s Bucking Hemi Theft Was Entirely False

      Andrew Collins

      Receive The Drive’s daily newsletter

      Stay updated with the latest car news, reviews, and features.

      On Monday, it was reported that Ram's "Bucking Hemi" mechanical bull attraction went missing from the company's Roadkill Nights event booth in Pontiac, Michigan over the weekend. Now, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is calling "bullsh*t" regarding the entire incident. According to the Detroit Free Press, the $34,000 custom prop wasn’t actually stolen by local criminals; rather, one of the company's event contractors simply loaded it up and drove away without informing anyone.

      Was it merely a publicity stunt? Thus far, Ram's representatives maintain it was not, framing it instead as a case of miscommunication. The contractor who took the bull did not come forward for nearly 72 hours after its disappearance, leading officials to believe it had been stolen by outsiders.

      Ram claims the bull made it all the way to North Carolina before the contractor saw media reports about its disappearance. It was returned to the company early Thursday morning.

      "We want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us and worked to bring RAM's Bucking HEMI back home," said Ram's Noah Thanos in a statement to The Drive on Thursday. "We are particularly grateful for the assistance from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in this situation."

      Stellantis

      "After 67 hours of uncertainty and a 1,200-mile round trip to and from North Carolina, Bucking HEMI has finally returned home," he stated. "It was mistakenly taken by one of the show contractors, who recognized the error after it was highlighted in the media."

      On Monday, we learned that what started as a bold representation of horsepower and defiance had “taken an unfortunate turn.”

      "On the evening of Saturday, August 9, at around 9:45 pm, following a Ram-sponsored event at Roadkill Nights in Michigan, the Bucking Hemi was reported stolen during disassembly," a company spokesperson informed The Drive via email. "A formal report has been submitted to local police, and an investigation is currently in progress."

      The company widely disseminated the news, even creating digital "missing" flyers to share on social media.

      Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard indicated that the department might consider pursuing Stellantis for filing a false report after departmental resources were “wasted” looking into the stated theft.

      Given that the “Hemi” bull costs approximately the same as a Dodge Hornet, it’s likely that everyone involved feels some relief at its recovery, but it could ultimately end up costing Ram much more than $34,000 once all is settled.

      Have a tip? Reach out to us at [email protected].