Dog attack call leads to arrest
Published 10:55 am Saturday, October 13, 2018
Allen Thomas Gartner, 32, of Austin was charged on Thursday afternoon in Mower County District Court with felony fifth-degree assault, felony terroristic threats and felony prohibited violent felon in possession of a stun gun.
According to the court complaint, police responded to a call of a dog attacking another dog at 9:16 a.m. on Wednesday in the 500 block of 11th Street Southwest. A man said a dog owned by Gartner had attacked his dog and this was the third such incident. He said he was walking his dog on a leash when Gartner’s pit bull ran across the street and bit his dog. He said Gartner made no attempt to retrieve the pit bull, so he kicked it to get it away and led the dog back to Gartner by its collar.
Allen Gartner
The man told police he swore at Gartner and told him it was the third time his dog had attacked his, the complaint states. When the man threatened to call the police, Gartner went into his garage and came out pointing a stun gun, saying, “I’m gonna (expletive) get you (expletive).” The man described the stun gun as looking like a “brick” that made sparks and a loud crackling noise. Gartner then went inside while the man called police.
Officers attempted to make contact with Gartner at his residence, but Gartner did not open the door, the complaint states. Police then contacted Gartner’s probation officer, who arrived on scene and called Gartner’s phone, prompting him to open the door. Gartner denied threatening the man and accused the man of threatening him. Police searched the residence for the stun gun and located two working stun guns in the room where the pit bull was housed. Gartner said he made the devices the previous days from items he found on the internet.
The complaint states police interviewed a neighbor who said she witnessed Gartner in possession of the stun gun.
A review of Gartner’s criminal record shows prior convictions for drug possession, theft, receiving stolen property, domestic assault and violating a domestic assault no contact order.
Gartner will appear in court again on Oct. 25.
