The message from Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer to a defendant who wanted to bring what he said was a service dog to his trial later this month was as clear as hanging a “no dogs allowed” sign outside the courthouse.
Clymer ruled Tuesday that the order he issued in September regarding Ryan Crum, 26, of Portage, and his self-trained service dog would stand, unless Crum could provide evidence his dog received outside training.
“Mr. Crum, you are not to bring dogs into this courthouse or the Portage courts. Do you understand?” Clymer said as the brief hearing wound up.
Crum, who prosecutors said violated the last order issued in September by bringing one of his dogs to both court locations and is going to trial later this month on misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement, said he understood.
Defense attorney Russell Brown Jr. has said Sasha, an Italian Cane Corso and one of Crum’s three dogs, was allowed in the courtroom during Crum’s previous trial. Prosecutor Gary Germann has said that changed after he took office in January 2019 and looked into the matter.
Clymer asked whether there was any evidence of training or certification of Crum’s dogs “other than something that’s obtainable online.”
Crum’s dogs have not been to a certified trainer, Brown said, and Crum has taught all of his dogs himself, to assist him with his medical needs. Brown has said Crum suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
With the resources available online, Brown said, someone shouldn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to have a dog professionally trained, and the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t require that for service animals.
Clymer said his position since September has been to determine what makes Crum’s dogs special as opposed to anyone else’s, if they can train their dog on their own and bring it into the courtroom.
“This might open the floodgates of anyone bringing in service animals of any type,” Clymer said, noting the challenges faced by airlines.
He also noted several cases in Portage involving Crum’s dogs for local ordinance violations, including animals running at large, all of which have been resolved.
“I don’t want a dog in the courtroom who might cause a problem,” Clymer said, admitting Sasha “was a well-behaved dog. The court takes notice of that.”
Deputy Prosecutor John Norris said the fact that the ordinance violations were filed in the first place gave the state pause that Crum is a dog trainer.
True service dogs, Norris said, assist the military and first responders, as well as people with disabilities. Calling Crum’s dogs service animals cheapens that definition.
“I do not think this dog fits that definition,” he said.
If Crum trained his dogs and that’s the standard for service dogs, Clymer said, that would mean there’s no standard at all.
“We’re going to have public buildings that are filled with dogs, with the understanding that I love dogs,” Clymer said.
According to online court records, Crum was charged on Oct. 4, 2017, with felony counts of criminal confinement, battery on a public safety officer and resisting law enforcement, and misdemeanor counts of intimidation and disorderly conduct.
When police served him with a warrant later that month, he drew additional misdemeanor charges of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
A jury in Clymer’s court found Crum guilty on the felony battery and resisting law enforcement counts, as well as the misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, according to online court records, and he was sentenced to probation.
Crum’s trial on the misdemeanor counts is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 27 in Clymer’s courtroom.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
