Inset: Trey Decloedt (Lake County Sheriff's Office). Background: Bodycam footage of Trey Decloedt's arrest (WKMG).
A Florida man who allegedly fought his neighbor over dog poop in his yard now faces felony charges for taking it too far.
Trey Decloedt, 35, is out on bond after he was arrested on Aug. 8 in connection with an incident he had with his neighbor. According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, police responded to a residence in Leesburg, Florida, on Aug. 7 after receiving a call from Decloedt's neighbors. The couple told police that they had been part of an "ongoing dispute" with Decloedt related to dog feces being left on their driveway and Decloedt's driveway. That day, the husband told police that the dispute "escalated" when Decloedt allegedly entered the couple's home without their permission.
Decloedt, the neighbor said, was "visibly irate" and allegedly had dog feces in his hand.
According to the affidavit, Decloedt began yelling at the couple before he allegedly "intentionally threw dog feces" at the husband, striking him. The husband reportedly shoved Decloedt back out of the home, under the carport, and a physical fight between the two men ensued. After Decloedt allegedly punched the man in the face, he picked up a "child's scooter" and "raised the metal frame above his head in a menacing posture" while verbally threatening the husband.
Police said they observed a red mark on the husband's forehead and "animal feces" on the outside of the neighbor's house.
When police spoke to Decloedt, he said he had spoken to his neighbors about picking up after their dog. In body camera footage obtained by local CBS affiliate WKMG, Decloedt can be heard telling police that when he spoke to his neighbor's wife about the dog feces in his yard, she said she would pick it up, but "four hours later, it was still there." Decloedt added that he "set it on the edge of the driveway right there."
Decloedt then told police that his neighbor sent him a message so he could come over and talk about the issue. After he arrived, Decloedt told police that his neighbor "shoved him in the doorway" and they fought in the neighbor's driveway. When police asked if they could come inside Decloedt's home to photograph the injuries, Decloedt allegedly refused. He then allegedly refused to comply with orders to come out of the house.
After Decloedt was put in handcuffs and brought in for questioning, he was read his rights and agreed to talk. According to the affidavit, he stuck with his story and added that he and his neighbor used to be close friends and had an agreement that they could enter each other's properties "without knocking."
Police asked the neighbor about that purported agreement, and the neighbor played police a video in which he told Decloedt "not to come to his property or his house regarding the dispute about dog feces."
Decloedt was arrested and charged with aggravated battery, burglary with assault or battery, and simple battery. He posted $16,000 bond on Aug. 9 and was released. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 31.