Dog Fight Turns Into Human Fight In Port Richey

PORT RICHEY, FL — A 19-year-old Port Richey man was charged with aggravated assault after the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said he threatened a neighbor with a pocketknife after the man's dog tried to attack his parents' dog.

According to the sheriff's office, a Brentwood Drive resident was walking his dog past the home of Nathaniel James Merriam when an unleashed dog belonging to Merriam's parents ran up to the neighbor's dog. The neighbor's dog lunged and tried to attack the other dog before the neighbor pulled it away.

The homeowners got into an argument with the neighbor, accusing him of kicking their dog. Hearing the commotion, Merriam came outside, pulled out a large pocket knife and brandished it in the neighbor's direction, according to deputies.

Merriam told deputies that he only wanted to scare the neighbor but the neighbor said Merriam challenged him to a fight.