CLEARWATER, Fla. — Transient Donald J. Scott, 31, was arrested April 12 after allegedly choking a police dog.
Scott was charged with battery offense against a police dog and armed burglary. His bail was set for $25,500.
Around 3:50 p.m. Saturday, a bicycle patrol officer noticed a suspicious man in an abandoned restaurant at 1343 Cleveland St. in Clearwater, said Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater public safety spokeswoman.
After the officer identified himself as a police officer, Daly-Watts said Scott used explicative terms to say if he wanted him, come in and get him.
The officer and a backup officer entered the building and Scott armed himself with a bat and disappeared into the restaurant. Due to hazards in the restaurant, including knives, the officers left the building and sent in canine officer Koa, Daly-Watts said.
Koa found the suspect, but Scott choked the dog, freed himself and regained the bat. At that point, Daly-Watts said, an officer used a taser on the suspect and arrested him.
The police dog is unharmed.