Man Has Run In With Benton County Deputies- Again
By: Garret Krier
Updated: May 9, 2012
A man known for run ins with Benton County Deputies is in their cross hairs once again. Both sides are now trying sort out this situation.
Sunday night John Lewis says he heard a commotion outside his home near Rogers. Lewis posted a Youtube video from his surveillance cameras.
According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, it all started when a deputy went to investigate a 911 hangup call in the area. "You just do not know what these circumstances present," said Benton County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Gay.
Dispatchers did not have a specific location, just the general location of the cell phone the call came from. According to the Benton County Sheriff's office, the deputy knocked on a couple of doors before heading to John Lewis' property.
On his property a couple guest houses. So the deputy walked up to one with an open door which was covered by a flag. "He heard some moaning coming from inside, so he opens the flag.. knocks on the door and announces himself," said Benton County Deputy Doug Gay.
That's when -- according to the deputy -- a pit bull charged from inside. "He was instantly bit on the leg and boot area. Then the dog bit him on the knee. And continued his attack until he ultimately bit him on the arm," said Gay.
The Sheriff's Office says the deputy then shot the dog. "There was a male that came out of the house, partially clothed. And he asked if the deputy had shot his dog."
That man, Rick Niebuhr says the dog was scared. Homeowner John Lewis says the dog was on a chain and the deputy should have heeded the warning signs posted all over the yard.
"The officer had no right to go up in there. None whatsoever. He had no right to be on the property in the first place," said Lewis.
"Whether it is a child playing on a phone or an actual emergency. We are going to respond to those," said Gay. This isn't the first run-in the county has had with Lewis. In 2010, Lewis recorded a deputy arresting him for refusing to answer questions and posted that video online, too.
Deputies say - in both instances - they were just doing their jobs. "Had Mr. Lewis needed medical attention, the paramedics and first responders would have gone to that residence and perhaps also been attacked by the animal," said Gay.
Deputies are forwarding all this information to the prosecutor so he can decide whether to file charges against Lewis for having an unsecured vicious animal.
Sunday night John Lewis says he heard a commotion outside his home near Rogers. Lewis posted a Youtube video from his surveillance cameras.
According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, it all started when a deputy went to investigate a 911 hangup call in the area. "You just do not know what these circumstances present," said Benton County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Gay.
Dispatchers did not have a specific location, just the general location of the cell phone the call came from. According to the Benton County Sheriff's office, the deputy knocked on a couple of doors before heading to John Lewis' property.
On his property a couple guest houses. So the deputy walked up to one with an open door which was covered by a flag. "He heard some moaning coming from inside, so he opens the flag.. knocks on the door and announces himself," said Benton County Deputy Doug Gay.
That's when -- according to the deputy -- a pit bull charged from inside. "He was instantly bit on the leg and boot area. Then the dog bit him on the knee. And continued his attack until he ultimately bit him on the arm," said Gay.
The Sheriff's Office says the deputy then shot the dog. "There was a male that came out of the house, partially clothed. And he asked if the deputy had shot his dog."
That man, Rick Niebuhr says the dog was scared. Homeowner John Lewis says the dog was on a chain and the deputy should have heeded the warning signs posted all over the yard.
"The officer had no right to go up in there. None whatsoever. He had no right to be on the property in the first place," said Lewis.
"Whether it is a child playing on a phone or an actual emergency. We are going to respond to those," said Gay. This isn't the first run-in the county has had with Lewis. In 2010, Lewis recorded a deputy arresting him for refusing to answer questions and posted that video online, too.
Deputies say - in both instances - they were just doing their jobs. "Had Mr. Lewis needed medical attention, the paramedics and first responders would have gone to that residence and perhaps also been attacked by the animal," said Gay.
Deputies are forwarding all this information to the prosecutor so he can decide whether to file charges against Lewis for having an unsecured vicious animal.
