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A Bartlesville man was seen in Washington County Court on Tuesday on the charges of animal cruelty, resisting, obstructing an officer, and interfering with an officer. Art Holtz was arrested on Thursday, Aug 31 after a call was made in reference to several dogs being at large. According to an affidavit, officers noticed several small dogs along the block they were called in reference to.

When officers approached the house, Holtz allegedly came out screaming and was very upset that the police were at his home. Officers said they had responded to several related calls to the same location involving Holtz as well as the dogs not having any water. Officers noticed that all four of the smaller dogs were unable to get any water, to which Holtz said it was not his responsibility to check and make sure they had any water.

The dogs allegedly had looked like they had not been fed in several days. When officers tried to get Holtz to sign the citations he was written, he refused. Officers warned Holtz that if he did not sign it that he would be arrested, which led to Holtz resisting officers and having to be taken to the ground.

While being detained, Holtz told shouted that he was going to kill the officers if that was the last thing he did. While being seen in court last Friday, Holtz led a profanity laced rant at Judge Russell Vaclaw which led to his bond being raised from $25,000 to $100,000 and a 30-day contempt of court sentence to be served at the Washington County Jail. His next court date is set for Sep. 8.