A woman remains behind bars after trying to sic her pit bull on police officers.
Fruitland Park police last week went to the home of 57-year-old Elsie Mariotti, at 400 Pennsylvania Ave., to arrest her on a warrant charging her with failure to appear. When officers arrived at her home, they informed her son they were there to arrest their mother.
Mariotti emerged with her pit bull and was “hostile” to officers, according to an arrest report. The officers called for backup and drew their tasers to protect themselves in case she turned the dog loose. She argued with officers over the validity of their warrant.
She went to another part of the house and re-emerged without the dog. She continued to be “hostile and aggressive” and was yelling profanities. At one point officers were forced to take Mariotti to the ground.
She was arrested on a charge of resisting arrest and booked without bond at the Lake County Jail.
Mariotti had been free on bond following her arrest in January at her home after a dispute with her son. She had been arrested on a charge of resisting arrest. She had failed to appear in court in that case.
