NORTH VERNON — A suspect accused of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and disorderly conduct received an additional misdemeanor charge after being observed intentionally barking at a police canine, who barked back.
North Vernon police added a misdemeanor charge of mistreatment of a law enforcement animal against Jarel T. Haines, 41, North Vernon, who was arrested on the charges at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday.
After Haines was arrested, he was placed in the back seat of Officer Shane Trepanier’s vehicle, which is also the vehicle used to transport police canine Zobi, who joined the department last year, said North Vernon police Sgt. Andrew Richmond.
Trepanier, who is Zobi’s handler, had placed the dog in a designated caged compartment in the back seat behind the driver, and had Haines sit in the back passenger seat, Richmond said. The two were separated by a thick, solid barrier and the dog could not get to Haines as the two were both in the back seat in separate compartments, Richmond said.
While Haines was being transported, Richmond said the suspect began barking and yelling at Zobi, causing the dog to become agitated and upset.
“Mr. Haines actively engaged in that type of behavior and was purely antagonizing the dog,” Richmond said. “I want to emphasize this was purposeful behavior. It was just to rile him (the dog) up.”
Zobi was not injured although the dog was very agitated at being repeatedly harassed and yelled at, Richmond said.
Haines now faces an additional charge of Class A misdemeanor cruelty/mistreatment of a law enforcement animal, according to arrest records.
Richmond, who is a former canine officer, said most people don’t realize that if you yell at a dog to be quiet, you are only telling them to be loud and bark, as dogs see the behavior as something to be mimicked and followed. “The dog thinks you are yelling, so he should yell too,” Richmond said.
The mistreatment of a law enforcement animal misdemeanor charge is unusual, Richmond said, although he said he has seen the behavior from suspects before, including during the time he served as a canine officer for the department.
Haines was being held in the Jennings County Jail in lieu of $905 bond. A Class A misdemeanor, the highest level of misdemeanor in Indiana, is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
