Ruff justice? 'Drunkard arrested for barking at police dog in car'



Ryan James Stephens, 25, allegedly claimed 'the dog started it'

A man has been arrested for the bizarre offence of barking at a police dog.

Ryan James Stephens has been charged with teasing ‘Timber’ the dog by barking and hissing at the K9 animal inside a police patrol car in Mason, Ohio.

The 25-year-old appeared to be very drunk and claimed ‘the dog started it’ when asked why he was harassing the animal, police said.

Charged: Ryan James Stephens allegedly teased 'Timber' the dog by barking and hissing at the K9 animal inside a police patrol car in Ohio (file picture)

Ohio police officer Bradley Walker said he heard the dog barking uncontrollably inside his patrol car while he was investigating a car crash at a pub last weekend.



Stephens was ‘making barking noises and was hissing at the police dog inside of the car’ at on Sunday morning, a police report said.

‘Timber (the dog) responded as trained and started to bark,’ Officer Walker wrote.

Officer Walker said he tried to confront Stephens, but he walked away and ignored commands to stop.

Allegations: The man appeared to be very drunk and claimed 'the dog started it' when asked why he was harassing the animal, Ohio police said (file picture)

Stephens was allegedly asked why he was harassing the animal and replied: ‘The dog started it’.

Officer Walker said Stephens showed signs of being ‘highly intoxicated’ and was warned he was being detained before being ordered to sit in the back of another car.

Officers told Stephens ‘deliberate teasing would result in the (dog) responding aggressively and that response could potentially injure the (dog)’, police said.

Stephens was released to a bar employee who promised to drive him home. He was unavailable for comment and will appear in municipal court on April 21.