Police have filed assault charges against a Florida truck driver who let a pit bull loose on officers, who fired at the animal, killing it.

Ringwood police charged John Baker, 54, of Spring Hill, Florida, with five counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, one for each of the officers who attempted to stop him on Greenwood Lake Turnpike on Monday, Ringwood Police Chief Joseph Walker said.

During the stop, Baker, who police later charged with being intoxicated, let his pit bull loose and it lunged at the officers.

"The officer ordered him not to let the dog loose,” Walker said. "And somehow — I can’t tell you what’s in his mind — he let the dog loose.”

As the dog charged the officers, one Ringwood police officer shot once and another shot four times, killing the dog, said Walker. The first shot did not stop the large dog, which Walker believed might have weighed as much as 100 pounds.

The incident started as a pursuit in Wanaque, when the tractor trailer hauling luxury boats was driving erratically, Wanaque Detective Capt. Angelo Calabro said. Officers attempted to pull the truck over, but Baker led them on a chase.

When officers finally arrested Baker, his blood alcohol content was nearly seven times the legal limit of .04% for commercial drivers, said Calabro. Baker’s blood alcohol content was three times the New Jersey limit of .08% for regular drivers, he said.

Baker faces a slew of charges from Wanaque Police, including operating a commercial motor vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving and eluding, Calabro said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Baker was being held in Passaic County jail.

One of the officers who shot the pit bull is a former K-9 handler from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office. Both officers were OK on Tuesday, but the shooting initially left them shaken up, said Walker.

“Both officers were animal lovers,” said Walker. “They were upset. It’s the last thing anyone wants to do.”

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.

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