William Gatlyn booking photo
LAKEPORT — On Tuesday, December 6th, at approximately 10:30 AM, police were sent to investigate reports of a man who’d threatened to cut up his dog and kill people with a machete.
Officers located the suspect, identified as 27-year-old William Richard Gatlyn, standing on the steps in the entryway of an apartment complex on Lily Cove Avenue. He was uncooperative and refused to leave with officers. When he reached into his pocket, officers took no chances and physically restrained Gatlyn in order to cuff him.
When they entered his apartment, they found a deceased brown Chihuahua dog on the living room floor with a machete lying across its body.
Additional officers responded to help with the investigation.
Gatlyn was arrested for felony animal cruelty and transported to Lake County Correctional Facility, where he was booked and remains housed. He also has prior arrests for battery, buglary, trespassing, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and public intoxication.
