Leesburg man who allegedly abused dog arrested after tense standoff with police

A Leesburg man suspected of animal abuse was arrested after threatening several officers with two large knives.

Police responded to 1204 Eunice Street regarding an animal abuse complaint around 5 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. The caller advised that 56-year-old Roger Thomas Foster was being aggressive toward his own dog and stated his dog would be dead. Additionally, the dog was bleeding from its mouth. 

A K-9 unit was first on the scene and observed a large black dog laying in the front yard. The dog had a large wound on the left side of its nose, and there were visible amounts of blood scattered on the driveway near its position. After examining the dog, the officer heard a male voice coming from inside the residence which had the garage and front door open at the time, the report said. 

The officer made an announcement and identified himself as LPD. While making another announcement, he saw Foster walk from the left to the right side of the house and look at him as he walked away. Due to the officer investigating the animal abuse complaint, he began yelling toward Foster to come out with his hands up, the report said. 

Another officer then arrived on scene and heard the K-9 officer commanding Foster to exit the house. Foster emerged again, this time from the rear right side of the residence holding a large knife. The K-9 officer ordered him to drop the knife, but he continued walking forward until he got to the door frame of the bedroom, the report said 

At that point, Foster noticed that the K-9 officer had his gun drawn due to being in fear for his life. The K-9 officer tried to verbally de-escalate the situation, but Foster grew agitated and told the officer to put his gun away. Once the K-9 officer said he could not do that, Foster threatened to go get his gun. He then turned and walked back into the bedroom, the report said. 

Once Foster was out of sight and believed to be getting another weapon, both officers tried to move the dog back to their cover to prevent Foster from using the knife to possibly harm it further. The dog’s collar slipped off its neck, and they were unable to remove the dog, the report said. 

Foster then came out of the room in the back of the house again, now holding two large knives. The K9 officer maintained a point of cover at the front door and tried to give more commands to drop the knives. Foster continued arguing and acted like he dropped the knives, however the K-9 officer saw him put them in his waistband near his lower back, the report said. 

Foster started walking toward the K-9 officer who continued to order him to stop as he knew he did not drop the knives. He again threatened to go get his gun and closed the front door. Due to losing visual, both officers dropped back to a point of better cover at the K-9 officer’s patrol vehicle, the report said. 

The pair ordered other officers to do the same and requested additional units. While doing so, they saw the garage door close and the window blinds being closed. Foster peeked through the window multiple times as the officers maintained cover, the report said. 

Officers used verbal commands in asking Foster to exit the house. He opened the front window and began engaging in communications with officers asking why law enforcement were outside his house. He moved away from the window, opened the garage and left the garage. Officers used verbal commands to ensure he kept his hands visible, and he was arrested in the front yard of the incident location, the report said. 

The New York native was charged with aggravated assault (law enforcement officer, firefighter, EMT, etc.) and resisting (obstructing without violence). He was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,000 bond.