Staff Report

Clifford Robert Vanata

ROCHESTER — A Rochester man was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a residence and battering two people and a K9 officer.

Clifford Robert Vanata, 37, 709 E. 700N, Rochester, is charged with burglary, a level 4 felony; two counts of battery against a public safety official, residential entry, and theft with a prior conviction, all level 6 felonies; and striking a law enforcement animal, a class A misdemeanor.

On June 6, an Indiana State Police trooper responded to a 911 hangup in Fulton. While en route, the trooper received information about a woman telling a 911 dispatcher she was scared for her life. A Fulton County Sheriff’s Office deputy advised the possible suspect, later identified as Vanata, may be an issue to take into custody.

According to court documents, the woman called 911 back and said Vanata broke through her residence’s door and threw items at her. While officers were at the scene attempting to locate Vanata, they were approached by a man who said Vanata entered his home and stole his cellphone. Officers located Vanata in a nearby alleyway and fired a Taser at him after he refused to comply with officers’ verbal commands.

Vanata then began to advance rapidly toward one of the responding officers and swung his hand, hitting one of the officers’ hats. He also grabbed a responding K9 officer’s collar and held the K9 off the ground, twisting the collar in a fashion to asphyxiate. A responding FCSO deputy hit Vanata in the face two times, causing Vanata to fall onto his back.

During the incident, Vanata also spit on a police officer and kicked two responding medics who were attempting to place him in an ambulance.

At the time of this case, Vanata was on probation in Fulton County.

Vanata was booked in the Fulton County Jail on June 6.