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SALT LAKE CITY — A Wyoming man cited for drug possession now faces federal charges for allegedly assaulting a Forest Service officer and trying to strangle his dog.

Forest Service K-9 officer Darren Schiedel noticed a mirror and white powder on the center console of a car parked in Lambs Canyon on Thursday night. He asked the occupants, Aaron B. Jereb and Amber Haanpaa, to get out of the car and then handcuffed them.

Schiedel issued them citations to appear in federal court and was preparing to leave when Haanpaa asked him to help jump-start their stalled car, according a complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

After the car started, Jereb confronted Schiedel, telling the officer "you don't look so good."

Aaron B. Jereb (Photo: Salt Lake County Jail)

Fearing an attack, Schiedel remotely released his dog, Livo. Jereb lunged at the dog, grabbed his collar and gouged his eyes and tried to strangle him, the complaint says. He also tried to pull the dog over an embankment.

Schiedel deployed his Taser, but Jereb was able to turn the weapon on him, using the Taser on the officer several times before he regained control of it, according to the complaint. Schiedel also used pepper spray on Jereb, who then ran away.

Backup officers arrived and eventually apprehended Jereb.

Haanpaa told investigators Schiedel was being "very nice" to them and that Jereb was high on methamphetamine.

Federal prosecutors charged Jereb with assault on a federal officer, a crime that carries up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is being held in custody pending a detention hearing next Monday.

Contributing: Ashley Kewish

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