Police in Tampa, Fla., say they have arrested four men who allegedly touched or harassed police horses during area patrols.

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Tampa Police Lt. William Ferguson alleged the suspects, whose names were not released, acted inappropriately with mounted patrol unit horses this weekend and one man even attempted to jump onto one of the animal's backs, The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said Sunday.

Other suspects stand accused of pulling horses' tails or attempting to scare or slap the police animals.

Ferguson said the misdemeanor arrests that took place Saturday night tend to occur about four times a year in Tampa.

"Some people, you know, they think they're being cute," Ferguson said in regards to such crimes.

The Times said Tampa Police have seven half-ton horses in the squad's mounted patrol unit. The horses names range from Rough Rider to Miranda.