Crime & Safety

Cranberry Man Charged with Barking at K9 Heading to Court

James Paul Andrews faces a third-degree felony charge for taunting a police dog during a DUI checkpoint.

A Cranberry Township man is facing a felony charge for taunting a police dog.

James Paul Andrews, 26, was arrested Sept. 15 during a DUI checkpoint near the Dairy Queen on Route 19 in Cranberry.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Cranberry Police, Andrews, who officers said had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, was pulled over by the Butler County DUI Task Force after he showed signs of impairment. He was taken into the parking lot of the Dairy Queen for a series of field sobriety tests.

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Police said Andrews refused further testing after he performed poorly on the first round of tests. He then became agitated, clenching his jaw and fists and telling police he had mental health problems and was schizophrenic.

“At this point for officer safety and Andrews safety he was detained and placed into handcuffs,” the complaint said.

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Andrews then admitted he stole the car he was driving from his mother and that he did not have a driver’s license. He later told medics he had consumed about a dozen beers at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Cranberry prior to his arrest, the complaint said.

After police asked him if he would submit to a blood test, Andrews didn’t answer. After he was walked over to a processing table near where Sgt. Don Myers of the Evans City Police Department was standing with his K-9, Chaos, Andrews began to bark at the dog.

The barking caused Chaos to become extremely agitated, the complaint said

Police said Andrews continued barking at the German shepherd, despite repeated warnings from Myers to stop it.

Andrews is charged with taunting a police animal, a third degree felony, driving under the influence and driving without a license in the incident.

If convicted of the taunting charge, Andrews faces up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

He scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11 before District Judge David Kovach in Cranberry for a preliminary hearing. He currently is in Butler County Jail, unable to post the $10,000 bail. 


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