Man arrested for trying to drown a K-9 has been charged and is now sitting in jail with no bond

STEUBEN COUNTY, IN - Officials with the Steuban County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) confirmed that a suspect is facing multiple charges after he attempted to drown one of the Sheriff's Office K-9 officers during a trespassing incident that led to a foot pursuit. 

According to reports, deputies were called around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8th about an alleged trespassing in the 3900 block of East County Road 200 North in rural Scott Township. The owner of the property told dispatchers that a man and a woman were on their property for an unknown reason.

Upon arriving on scene, deputies witnessed the man and woman being confronted by the property owner. As the deputies approached the duo, the fled on foot.

The deputies, along with the K-9, followed the couple, as did the property owner in a utility terrain vehicle in an effort to track down the suspects. Deputies warned the suspects that they would release a K-9 if they did not stop. The pair continued to run and K-9 Klara was released to run after them.

The woman, identified as 35-year-old Hollie Sue Richter eventually surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident. 

However, according to deputies, the man did not stop and continued to run. He was tracked down by K-9 Klara as he headed down into a large creek. According to SCSO, the K-9 bit the man, later identified as 31-year-old Skyler Austin Robertson. Instead of surrendering after the dog bite, deputies said that he grabbed the dog by the collar and forced her head under the water in what is being investigated as an attempted drowning. 

Cpl. Todd Johnson, K-9 Klara's handler said, "I've never had anything like this before. I have used her in the past, but it's never came down to something like this." When K-9 Klara stopped biting Robertson to try and free herself from the water, he tried to run away again, but the dog was able to get in a second bite. Johnson then called the dog off so she could rest after the attempted drowning. 

Johnson said in a statement, "I was kind of taken back watching the entire incident unfold right there in front of me. So, once I got her back to the car and realized that she was going to be OK, I let the state police and the rest of my shift partners here at the sheriff's office take care of everywhere from there while I focused on her."

Robertson was apprehended by the Indiana State Police. Both Robertson and Richter were treated for their injuries before being transported to the Steuben County Jail. Once there, they were booked on preliminary charges. Robertson faces two counts of resisting law enforcement and one count of interfering or striking a law enforcement animal. He was along found to have an active arrest warrant for failure to appear on resisting law enforcement and possession of marijuana charges.

Richter has been charged with one count of resisting and also had active arrest warrants for failure to return to lawful detention, possession of methamphetamine and escape from community corrections. Both are being held without bond pending an initial court appearance. 

K-9 Klara was taken to the vet and is now on antibiotics because there was water in both of her lungs. She has been off work since the pursuit, but will return soon and is expected to make a full recovery. K-9 Klara is five years old and Johnson has been working with her since she was one-year-old. Johnson said that on her off days, Klara is busy being a normal dog. According to SCSO, they have received goodie bags and treats from several different states in an effort to show their support for K-9 Klara.