**WARNING: The embedded YouTube video may be disturbing as it shows a horse involved in an accident.

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The sales director for Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) spent a couple of hours in the Marion County jail on Friday following an alleged incident with an investigator from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

PETA sent out a news release last week describing a confrontation between an investigator and OBS staff during the two-year-olds in training under tack show on Wednesday, April 10.

An under tack show is a speed trial prior to the sale of young thoroughbreds. The future race horses run a short distance at high speed so buyers can evaluate their potential. Horses that perform the fastest typically command top dollar at auction.

PETA says horse with hip #559 had an accident during its run and collided into the rail causing both the horse and jockey to crash to the ground. The organization’s news release included an edited video which they say had a clip from the OBS livestream of the under tack show combined with video they say an investigator shot as the horse was euthanized.

OBS streams the under tack so that buyers and agents around the globe can see the future race horses in action without traveling to Ocala. OBS’ link on YouTube where hip #559 ran has a graphic that indicates the horse is “out” around 14 minutes into the video.

PETA says as its investigator shot video of the horse being euthanized, members of the OBS team ordered the investigator to stop recording. PETA says OBS sales director Tod Wojciechowski ripped the investigator’s backpack off his body and ordered him off the premises.

The Ocala Police Department (OPD) says the PETA employee filed a police report on Thursday valuing the contents of the backpack at $380.

57-year-old Wojciechowski was booked into the Marion County jail on Friday on a charge of robbery by sudden snatching. The sheriff’s office released him less than four hours later without requiring bond.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Wojciechowski has worked at OBS for more than 12 years.

The police report indicates officers retrieved the backpack from OBS and returned it to the man from PETA who confirmed nothing was missing.

An attorney representing Wojciechowski declined comment on behalf of his client. Meantime, 352today has also reached out to OBS for comment and context. We will update our story to add their response once we obtain it.

The OBS spring thoroughbred sale begins Tuesday, April 16, at noon.