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Cops: Ohio man charged after barking at police dog

Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:14 PM EDT
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Associated Press
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MASON — Police say an Ohio man has been charged with a misdemeanor for barking at a police dog.

A police report says 25-year-old Ryan James Stephens was charged with teasing a police dog in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason.

Officer Bradley Walker wrote that he heard the K9 dog barking uncontrollably inside his patrol car while he was investigating a car crash at a pub early Sunday morning. Walker says Stephens was making barking noises and hissing at the animal.

Walker reported that Stephens said "the dog started it" when asked why he was harassing the animal. The officer said Stephens appeared highly intoxicated.

There was no answer to calls to Stephens' home in Mason. He is to appear April 21 in municipal court.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Dawn May

Well I guess if the dog started it, drop the charges.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:32 PM EDT
lakotaidaho

I think courts have ruled that a person has First Amendment rights to call police officers names...wouldn't that hold true for a police dog?

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:56 PM EDT
JiminPA

Correct!

  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Tue Apr 5, 2011 7:51 PM EDT
Jim420

yeah. but that same argument could be used.. disobeying the orders of a police officer.. the dog's barking was telling him to stop... etc etc.. considering police dogs have "human" status.. I wouldn't push my luck on the free speech issue...

but then I wouldn't push my luck, and bark at a cop.. dog or not..

  • 4 votes
#2.2 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 12:38 AM EDT
lakotaidaho

Jim420. Good answer.

I'd demand a jury trial and want to have the dog put on the stand to tell his side of the story. And make sure that the defendant's lawyer is a cat!

I'd also bring up professional standards. Since the dog is considered a police officer, didn't he go through training on how to deal with an antagonistic population? Lowering himself to react the way he did (barking) at a drunken man...not very professional. LOL

  • 3 votes
#2.3 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 11:39 AM EDT
Reply
kd-3277031

Those damn drunken men- always have to bark back! Feel bad for the dog that has to deal with drunk people all day!

  • 1 vote
Reply#3 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 4:47 PM EDT
Dave-1970278

How stupid !!!!

    Reply#4 - Wed Apr 6, 2011 10:32 PM EDT
    ruthlessmoose

    Why do dogs start so many drunken fights?

    • 1 vote
    Reply#5 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:51 AM EDT
    34DD

    the dog started it... wow

    • 1 vote
    Reply#6 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 4:19 PM EDT
    Crash Test

    I've gone to court for something similar, except I wasn't drunk. The officer said that I was harassing his K9 partner while filling up at the gas pump. He then used that excuse to search my truck for any "illegal drugs" and intently cut into my custom seats to look for these so called drugs. He tore my truck up for no reason at all. The only problem for the officer was the video surveillance camera at the gas pumps which showed me getting out of my truck and using the gas pump and never once did I interact with the dog. I was awarded $6,500.00 for damages to my truck.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#7 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 6:53 PM EDT
    ma91744-1401618

    Only a cop would think to do this.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#8 - Fri Apr 8, 2011 7:28 PM EDT
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