Police: Titusville man used toddler as human shield when K-9 was sent after him

A Titusville man used a toddler as a human shield from a police dog, officials said. Authorities said Lawrence Kiehart is facing charges of child abuse, kidnapping and false imprisonment.According to deputies, Kiehard was arrested on Aug. 2 for domestic battery for stalking his ex-girlfriend. A report said Kiehart was released two days later and immediately began bombarding the victim in that case with text messages and calls.When officers went to a home in the Hickory Hill neighborhood to make contact with Kiehart, they said Kiehart held a child captive in the unfinished attic for around four hours.Deputies brought in police dogs, but when K-9 deputies arrived on scene, Kiehart lifted the child up and covered his own face.Kiehart refused to let the child leave the attic unless all charges were dropped.After a four-hour ordeal, deputies got Kiehart to surrender, and charged him with child abuse, kidnapping and false imprisonment, and tampering with a witness. A witness told WESH 2 News the child appeared unhurt.

A Titusville man used a toddler as a human shield from a police dog, officials said.

Authorities said Lawrence Kiehart is facing charges of child abuse, kidnapping and false imprisonment.


According to deputies, Kiehard was arrested on Aug. 2 for domestic battery for stalking his ex-girlfriend. A report said Kiehart was released two days later and immediately began bombarding the victim in that case with text messages and calls.

When officers went to a home in the Hickory Hill neighborhood to make contact with Kiehart, they said Kiehart held a child captive in the unfinished attic for around four hours.

Deputies brought in police dogs, but when K-9 deputies arrived on scene, Kiehart lifted the child up and covered his own face.

Kiehart refused to let the child leave the attic unless all charges were dropped.

After a four-hour ordeal, deputies got Kiehart to surrender, and charged him with child abuse, kidnapping and false imprisonment, and tampering with a witness.

A witness told WESH 2 News the child appeared unhurt.