WARREN — A Virginia man was sentenced on Tuesday to one year in state prison for threatening and attempting to choke a Girard police dog.

After pleading guilty to assault of a police officer and intimidation, Kristopher Wayne Bullard, 31, was sentenced to 12 months by Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Andrew Logan.

Liberty police encountered Bullard while responding to Liberty Plaza for a man who had threatened an Alliance man. Bullard was found to have a warrant out of Warren for felonious assault, in addition to domestic violence charges out of Boardman.

The report states that an argument between Bullard and the man turned physical as Bullard began hitting and clawing at him. Bullard was said to have run down Belmont Avenue afterward.

About a half hour later, police apprehended Bullard as he was hiding behind Walmart in the plaza.

Additional police help, including the police dog, were called to the plaza, the report stated.

After making threats toward Leo the dog, the officer released Leo and he latched onto the left hip of Bullard. Bullard then grabbed Leo by the collar and pivoted in an attempt to choke the dog.

Bullard refused to obey officer commands as he was still grabbing for the dog’s throat, which prompted police to physically control the man.

He continued making threats and resisting while being taken to the hospital, at one point threatening to kill a police officer’s family.

cmcbride@tribtoday.com