A Saratoga police officer was fired this week after being arrested and charged with threatening violence against other law enforcement officers who were attempting to take one of his dogs into custody.
Saratoga Town Clerk Marie Christen confirmed to Cowboy State Daily Thursday that police Lt. Justin Brown was fired following a special town council meeting on Tuesday night.
Brown was arrested and charged in February with influencing, intimidating or impeding jurors, witnesses and officers — a felony charge that comes with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine — interference with a peace officer, a misdemeanor charge, and two counts of allowing a large dog to attack a person, also a misdemeanor charge.
Brown was one of three full-time officers at the Saratoga Police Department.
The arrest and charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve, when law enforcement attempted to seize one of Brown’s dogs, Shaw, that he said he was training as a K9.
Shaw was accused last year of biting individuals including Brown’s wife and young daughter.
When police attempted to seize the dog, Brown said that would not be happening and claimed the dog had been taken to Colorado.
Brown then threatened all of the law enforcement personnel on scene, telling them that if they attempted to take his dog, he would “break [their] necks.” He also claimed no one in Carbon County could “take” him.
Police left Brown’s residence following the threat of violence.
