Ohio man charged with teasing police dog by making barking noises

4/5/2011

MASON, Ohio — Police say an Ohio man accused of barking at a police dog has been charged with a misdemeanor.

A Mason police report says 25-year-old Ryan James Stephens, of Mason, was charged with teasing a police dog in the Cincinnati suburb.

Officer Bradley Walker wrote that he heard the dog barking uncontrollably while Walker was investigating a car crash at a pub early Sunday morning. The report says Stephens was making barking noises and hissing at the K9 dog that was inside the police car.

Walker reported that Stephens said “the dog started it” when asked why he was harassing the animal. The officer said Stephens appeared highly intoxicated.

There was no answer to calls to Stephens home. He is to appear April 21 in Mason Municipal Court.