ST. GEORGE — A 24-year-old St. George man was arrested last week for an incident involving alleged animal abuse, assault and burglary during a birthday party.
The man, Tielar Mikel Hibben, was at a friend’s house celebrating his birthday in early June when two of the men who lived at the residence saw Hibben abuse his dog, according to the probable cause statement filed in support of his arrest.
“They stated Tielar was kicking, punching and choking his animal,” the statement reads.
One of Hibben’s friends then locked the dog inside the residence and locked Hibben and a friend who arrived with him outside.
Police say Hibben proceeded to force the back door open by kicking it in and began to beat the man who had separated Hibben from his dog.
Witnesses later told a responding police officer that Hibben was beating the man “in the head and body.”
Hibben and the man who arrived with him left the scene before an officer arrived. The officer wrote in the probable cause statement that “substantial damage” had been done to the back door and noted it was no longer on its hinges.
The man Hibben allegedly assaulted had some blood, scrapes and red marks on his face from being struck, the officer wrote.
The officer located Hibben at a trailer on Panorama Parkway in St. George last Thursday. Hibben told the officer he had kicked the back door three times to open it and was then attacked by the man who locked him out. He added that the friend who had accompanied him witnessed everything.
When contacted by the officer, Hibben’s friend said he hadn’t seen Hibben abuse his dog, though he confirmed the other man had locked the dog in the house. He and Hibben wanted to get the animal back so they could leave.
Police state that Hibben became upset when he was told he was under arrest and attempted to leave the area. This led to officers reportedly pinning him against a police vehicle to place handcuffs on him.
Hibben was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane and has been changed with second-degree felony burglary and misdemeanor counts of assault, criminal mischief and animal abuse.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
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