A Farrell man who is facing charges that he threatened to kill a police dog and its handler wants to file a complaint against Southwest Mercer County Regional police for failing to respond to his 911 calls.

Alfred Clarke, 44, of 418 Indiana Ave., appeared at Tuesday's Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Commission meeting ready to play a recording of four 911 calls he made requesting a policeman come to his house.

The commission members declined to hear the tape, saying the department has a policy addressing complaints against policemen. Solicitor Robert Tesone said Clarke needs to file a written complaint with the police department.

Clarke said he made the 911 calls to complain of an unleashed dog and harassment by Sharpsville patrolman Thomas Borton, who lives in Farrell.

Borton initiated a Southwest police investigation by calling shortly after the 1 p.m. Nov. 16 incident.

Clarke was walking past Borton's home when a police K-9 German shepherd ran toward him in a "playful" manner, police said. Clarke yelled for Borton to get the dog away or he would kill it and Borton, police said.

Borton called the dog away and Clarke continued to threaten to kill it, police said.

Clarke was charged with terroristic threats and disorderly conduct, and District Justice Henry J. Russo, Hermitage, held for court all charges at a preliminary hearing Jan. 2.

After walking away from Borton's home, Clarke kept a doctor's appointment, and called 911 upon returning home, he said. He said he called four times over 45 minutes.

"It makes no sense not to send an officer to my house when I wanted to report a crime," he said. "If you can't get a cop to your house, something's wrong."

Police Chief Joseph Timko said he's concerned there's a complaint against the department, but also troubled that the person complaining came in shortly after being held for court.

He said if Clarke had come to the police department, any policeman could have given him a complaint form to fill out.

Clarke was given a form Tuesday, Timko said, and Clarke said he intends to fill it out.

Clarke registered an earlier complaint that he was backed into by a Southwest cruiser last Jan. 23. The driver, patrolman David Moyer, wrote in his report that it was "extremely unlikely" that the cruiser hit Clarke.

Clarke said he has hired an attorney to represent him in his claim from the January incident.