Branford Man Tries to Choke Police K-9, Assaults Officers: Police

(Editor's Note: We first ran this story earlier in the week but here it is again in case you missed it.)

BRANFORD, CT - A 38-year-old local man is accused of trying to choke a police dog and fought with several police officers, who had responded to a domestic dispute at a local motel, police said Monday.

Police said Louis Ortiz, of East Main Street was arrested Saturday evening, just before 9 p.m., after police received a 911 call that Ortiz was allegedly involved in a violent domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the Branford Motel located at 470 East Main Street.

When police arrived, Officers Jay Kaufman, Mathew Clerkin, Luigi Amasino, and his K-9 partner, Joker, found Ortiz on the second-floor balcony of the motel, police said in a news release.

"As Officer Kaufman tried to take Ortiz into custody, he became combative and non-compliant with officers commands. Ortiz lunged at K9 Joker and was eventually subdued by Joker and the officers; however Ortiz tried to choke the K9 and continually fought with the officers," wrote Police Capt. Geoffrey Morgan.

Officer’s Amasino, Clerkin and Joker were all injured during the altercation, Morgan added. The officers were treated at an area medical facility and released with minor injuries, police said.

Amasino reported that Joker didn’t require medical attention. Ortiz was transported by Branford Fire Department Paramedics to a medical facility for treatment and was later released to police.

Ortiz was charged with breach of peace, third-degree assault, two counts of threatening, interfering with an officer, cruelty to animals, and assault on an officer. He was held on a $10,000 bond and was arraigned in New Haven Court this morning.