Louisiana: Dogs Tased, Baton Rouge man arrested after he ordered them to attack, say police

LOUISIANA -- A Baton Rouge man who ordered his pit bulls to attack two energy company employees who'd entered his back yard was arrested Tuesday when he tried to make the dogs charge again, a sheriff's office report says.

Michael Barcia, 47, faces counts of aggravated assault, owner's responsibility and public intimidation following the incident in his back yard at 3451 Lanier Drive before 1 p.m., according to an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's office report.

At some point in the past, two Entergy employees had entered Barcia's back yard and tried to turn off the man's electricity due to non-payment, the report says.

Barcia "instructed his dogs to attack" the workers, causing the employees to flee without injury, the report says.

On Tuesday, two Entergy employees, this time accompanied by two Sheriff's deputies, again entered Barcia's back yard, according to the report. A gate was open to a back deck, where a deputy noted seeing two pit bulls.

Barcia, who was riding on a lawnmower, was alerted to the presence of law enforcement by his girlfriend, the report says.

He dismounted from the lawnmower and began walking "briskly...as if he was angry," before screaming an "unknown verbal command," the report says.

"His two dogs immediately exited the rear deck in a fast, aggressive manner" toward at least one of the deputies, who Tased one of the dogs, causing both canines to retreat, according to the report.

The deputy narrowly escaped without serious injuries, the report says.

Barcia, who was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, was not assigned a bail as of Wednesday.

(The Advocate - Aug 3, 2016)