Dog owner who said police beat him pleads no contest

PROVO — A man who had a confrontation with police after he left his dog in a car pleaded no contest Thursday to assault against a police officer.

Chris Lauridsen was charged with the class A misdemeanor in February after police responded to a call of animal cruelty. Investigators said Lauridsen would not comply and continued to approach officers and yell at them. Lauridsen said police beat him repeatedly with a nightstick, which gave him multiple bruises on his shoulders.

On Thursday, his charge of interfering with an arrest was dropped.

Defense attorney Mike Esplin said the case was deemed a civil dispute. Lauridsen will pay a $100 fine to the state by the end of January, and the plea will be held at abeyance for six months. If he violates no other laws and complies with the terms, the charge can later be dismissed.

— Sara Lenz