Worker, dog owner growl threats

A park employee and a Bluffton man got into an argument Wednesday morning after the man's dog threatened the employee at a Hilton Head Island park, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report released Friday.

The Beaufort County Parks and Recreation employee was emptying trash at the Chaplin Community Dog Park when a black dog began barking and coming close to him. The employee grabbed a shovel to protect himself in case the dog became aggressive, according to the report.

The owner then took control of the dog. The employee told the owner that if the dog came any closer to him, he would hit it with the shovel.

The owner responded, saying an expletive-laced version of "If you hit my dog, I will put a bullet in your head," according to the report.

The employee and his co-worker then got into their car and called the Sheriff's Office.

The dog owner told deputies he threatened the employee because he didn't want his dog to be hurt. Despite his verbal threat, the man said he didn't have a gun with him. Deputies verified that he had no weapon.