Burnsville Man Arrested for Refusing to Come Out of Closet, Tussle with Police Dog

One Burnsville man's disappearing act has landed him in the county jail.

Tyler Christopher Jones, 22, has been charged with obstruction of the legal process, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine. He also stands accused of domestic assault, fourth-degree damage to property, and disorderly conduct.

The incident in question began in the wee hours of March 13, when police were called to an apartment on West River Hills Drive on report of two men fighting. Once on scene, officers knocked on the apartment door and encountered a man with blood spattered on his shirt and arms.

The man said that Jones had been staying with him for a few weeks. The night before, he'd come home around 11:30 p.m. and found Jones drinking with four or five friends. He asked Jones to shut the party down within an hour. The man said Jones kept trying to touch him, hug him and poke at him.

Annoyed, he left the apartment for 15 minutes, then came back and told Jones that he needed to quiet down for the night. As the disagreement progressed, Jones became more aggressive with his host. When the man left the room to diffuse the situation, Jones continued to bother him. As the argument escalated, Jones lost it, the man said, and began to punch holes in the wall of the apartment. Jones also broke a table in the bedroom.  

Jones tried to punch him in the head, the man said, but he dodged the blow and it landed on his shoulder instead. The man began to defend himself and try to control Jones. A struggle ensued and the two went to the ground. While the two grappled, Jones  tried to put his hands around the man's throat and scratched his neck.

Jones locked himself in a closet in the master bedroom after a bystander called the police. Officers repeatedly called out to Jones, asking him to come out, but he failed to comply. Then police brought in Echo, a canine partner, who indicated that there was indeed someone in the closet. Officers once again ordered Jones to come out. Jones refused and the officers forced the door. As soon as the door opened, Echo engaged the defendant, who allegedly resisted by clamping his hands around Echo's muzzle. The episode came to an end after Echo took Jones to the ground.

Jones made his first appearance in court on March 15. His next hearing is scheduled for May 2.