A messy neighborhood dispute in Florida appears to have gone far beyond a typical complaint about dog waste.
Authorities say a Lake County man, enraged over dog feces allegedly left unscooped near nearby homes, entered his neighbor’s residence carrying the waste — then threw it at the homeowner before the confrontation turned physical and included an alleged threat with a child’s metal scooter.
Trey Decloedt, 35, was taken into custody by Lake County sheriff’s deputies on Aug. 8 following the incident at a Leesburg home one day earlier, according to reports that cited the arrest affidavit.
The neighboring couple told investigators they had been involved in an ongoing conflict with Decloedt over dog feces being left around their properties, WKMG-TV reported.
According to the husband’s account, Decloedt came into the home without permission while visibly angry and holding dog feces, then flung the waste at him, striking him with it.
The homeowner said he forced Decloedt back outside, where the argument spilled into a physical fight and Decloedt allegedly punched him in the face, according to the affidavit.
Deputies said the dispute escalated again when Decloedt allegedly picked up a child’s metal scooter, raised it above his head in what was described as a “menacing posture” and threatened the neighbor, according to reports.
When deputies arrived, they noted a red mark on the neighbor’s forehead and saw animal feces outside the home, the affidavit stated.
Decloedt told deputies he had already complained to the neighbor’s wife about the mess and that she promised to clean it up — but four hours later, it was still there, according to bodycam footage obtained by WKMG-TV.
He claimed the neighbor later messaged him to come over and discuss the poop problem, then “shoved him in the doorway” before the two men fought in the driveway.
When deputies asked to enter Decloedt’s home to photograph injuries he said he suffered in the scuffle, he allegedly refused — and then declined orders to come outside, according to Law&Crime.
Deputies eventually placed him in handcuffs and brought him in for questioning, where, after being read his rights, he agreed to talk and stuck to his story.
Decloedt also told deputies that the two neighbors had previously had an understanding that allowed them to enter each other’s homes without knocking.
The neighbor, however, provided deputies with a recording that reportedly showed he had previously told Decloedt he was no longer welcome on the property or inside the house because of the feces dispute.
Decloedt was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, simple battery and burglary.
Decloedt posted $16,000 bond on Aug. 9 and was released, according to Law&Crime, which reported that his next court date is Aug. 31.
