A Portage Township man who allegedly kicked a dog causing the dog to get stuck in a balcony’s pillars has been charged with animal cruelty, among other misdemeanors, according to police.
Jeremiah Tautges, 24, of the 700 block of Heritage Road, also is charged with resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Deputies with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department were called around 3:50 p.m. Tuesday to Tautges’ residence for a verbal disturbance.
Police said they could hear loud banging and yelling between a man and a woman coming from inside the apartment, and what sounded like an animal scratching at the door, a police report said.
Tautges allegedly wouldn’t open the door for police, yelling at them to “get a (expletive) warrant,” when a maintenance worker for the complex provided a key because police said “someone or an animal was in immediate danger,” according to a police report.
Once inside, police found a woman on the couch crying and Tautges allegedly standing in an aggressive manner with his fists clenched near the screen door to the balcony, the report said.
A deputy drew his weapon and told Tautges to place his hands above his head, and Tautges allegedly responded with an expletive before running to the balcony, the report said.
Police said it appeared Tautges kicked the dog on the balcony, causing the dog to get stuck in the balcony’s pillars. Tautges then allegedly held the screen door shut so police couldn’t get on the balcony, the report said.
The screen door was broken during the struggle, and police were able to take Tautges to the ground and restrain him because of what they said was his aggressive behavior, the report said.
With backup from Indiana State and Portage police, police were able to get Tautges in handcuffs and free the dog, the report said. Police said the dog had lacerations to its head, face and mouth and was evaluated by an animal control officer, according to the police report.
Police said Tautges allegedly resisted them as they escorted him out of the apartment and kicked a hole in the wall before he left, the report said. Tautges allegedly struck the trunk of a patrol car with his head, and police requested a jail van to transport him to Porter County Jail because of his aggressive behavior, the report said.
Police transported Tautges to Porter Regional Hospital for lacerations to his head and face, and said he had to be restrained to the hospital bed because of his behavior, according to the report. He was then transported to Porter County Jail, where police said his aggressive behavior continued, the report said.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
