CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police arrested a Clearlake man on Sunday night for domestic violence and shot the man's dog after it attempted to bite an officer.
James Allen Nelson, 57, was arrested on several felonies including domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, criminal threats and a misdemeanor violation of a domestic violence restraining order, according to the Clearlake Police Department.
At 10:22 p.m. Sunday, two Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of 12th street on the report of a domestic violence incident that was in progress. Police reported that the reporting party told the dispatcher a male was beating a female and threatening to kill her.
Officers arrived on scene and heard glass breaking inside the residence. A male, later identified as Nelson, was heard yelling he was going to stab someone and a female voice was heard inside screaming “please stop,” police reported.
Through a window, officers observed Nelson on top of the female victim, with one hand raised. One officer ordered Nelson through an open window at gun point to show his hands while another officer entered the residence through the front door, due to the exigent circumstances, according to the police report.
As the officer made entry into the residence, he was met by an aggressive pit bull dog. Police said the dog advanced on the officer, growling and attempting to bite him.
The officer was forced to discharge his firearm at the dog to protect himself and safely make entry into the residence to provide assistance to the victim. The officer fired one shot, killing the dog as it was trying to attack him, Clearlake Police reported.
Officers then entered the residence and detained Nelson, according to the report.
Nelson was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked, with bail set at $25,000, according to jail records.
Police said the dog was collected by officers to turn over to Clearlake Animal Control at the request of the female victim, whose name is being withheld due to privacy laws.
Neither officer was injured as a result of this confrontation, the Clearlake Police Department reported.