Pennsylvania Man Charged Barking Police Dog

James Paul Andrews a twenty-six year-old man from Cranberry Township in western Pennsylvania has been charged with allegedly provoking at a police dog by barking and growling at him. The barking, growling and other strange sounds directed at the animal occurred at a sobriety checkpoint on September 15 at around 2:40 in the morning. Andrews was also charged with drunk driving and driving without a license in addition to taunting a police animal. The latter charge is a third-degree felony.

Evan City police officer Sergeant and K-9 handler Don Meyers was at the checkpoint with his seven-year-old German Shepherd named Chaos when the incident occurred. Andrews told the officer he was afraid of dogs and asked for the dog to be put away. He then proceeded to bark at the dog at the scene. He was warned to stop, but he continued with his sounds and his noises escalated to even include hissing at the canine. Chaos did bark back at one point causing Andrews to bark more.

Andrews’ antics with Chaos could see him facing up to seven years in prison. That seven year does not including his punishment for the other charges he was already facing at the time.