Jury Convicts Man of Assaulting Law Enforcement, Resisting Arrest After He Sicced Dog on Officers Serving Him Warrants in 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — A jury convicted Billy Ray Schafer, 46, on Thursday of assaulting law enforcement officers and obstructing justice after he sicced his dog on police officers who went to Mr. Schafer’s home to serve him on outstanding warrants last year.

On Dec. 6, 2023, Norfolk Police officers were dispatched to Mr. Schafer’s home on Kirbyhaigh Circle to serve Mr. Schafer with warrants for his arrest. The officers knocked on Mr. Schafer’s door, and Mr. Schafer opened a window and told the officers that he was “not going to accept the warrants.” The officers saw through the window that Mr. Schafer owned a large pit bull and heard Mr. Schafer telling the dog, “Let’s go f*** some motherf***ers up.” Mr. Schafer then cracked the front door open, told the officers, “If I open this door again, it’s going to be bad,” and closed the door and windows. The officers stepped off the front porch and proceeded to wait on Mr. Schafer’s lawn.

A short time later, Mr. Schafer opened the front door again and sicced his dog on the officers. The dog ran toward one officer, who drew his gun in case the dog was aggressive, but the dog began wagging its tail and being playful once it got closer to the officers. Mr. Schafer came out onto the porch as this was happening, the other officers commanded him to show his hands and tried to place him under arrest, and Mr. Schafer retreated back inside. Mr. Schafer opened the door again a short time later, and the officers grabbed him and took him to the ground in order to arrest him. Mr. Schafer continued to resist being put in handcuffs and remained disagreeable by cursing and screaming when officers took him to the hospital following their use of force.

The officers charged Mr. Schafer from this incident with felony assault of law enforcement, felony attempted animal attack, misdemeanor disorderly conduct on hospital grounds, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice.

Mr. Schafer pleaded not guilty to his charges and requested to be tried by a jury. On Thursday, after hearing the evidence and arguments from the prosecution and defense, the jury found Mr. Schafer guilty of assaulting law enforcement and obstructing justice. Judge Tasha D. Scott, who presided over the trial, set Mr. Schafer’s sentencing hearing on Jan. 17, 2025.

“Mr. Schafer could have saved himself and the police a lot of trouble had he gone with the officers peacefully rather than set in motion this bizarre series of events,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Had Mr. Shafer done so, he would have faced none of the charges that went before this jury, and he would not be facing jail or prison for them. Whatever one’s opinion on whether they ought to be arrested, they should resolve that disagreement not by threats or attempts at violence but in court.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David A. Johnson is prosecuting Mr. Schafer’s case, and Norfolk Police Officer Patrick R. Fennell led the investigation.

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