Woman claims ‘sovereign citizen’ in dog violations

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A dog owner in Youngstown is facing charges after being accused of repeatedly ignoring the law.

“We get calls at least every week, if not every other week from neighbors,” said Mahoning County Deputy Dog Warden Sarah Csepeggi.

Carmen Norris was arrested this week after authorities realized she had skipped out on three previous cases in municipal court, all dealing with her refusal to properly register her two dogs and restrain them from getting out of her house on Miami Avenue.

“We got a call Monday from the U.S. Postal Service that her dogs were running loose, chasing after the mailman,” Cspeggi said.

Authorities say the problem for postal workers is so bad that they’ve stopped delivering mail to her house. On Thursday, the dog warden, city police and postal supervisor went to Norris’ house.

“The three of us went out yesterday and tried to tell her you can’t let your dogs run loose, let them chase the neighbors or the mailman and she refused to comply,” Csepeggi said.

Deputies say Norris claims to be a “sovereign citizen” and doesn’t have to follow laws dealing with registering her animals.

Court records show she also has a bench warrant against her in Girard for a theft charge but failed to appear for trial.

A sovereign citizen is one who claims to be part of a movement that opposes taxation, questions the legitimacy of government and believes they are not subject to the law.

In Youngstown court, Norris was held without bond because of the previous missed hearings. She’s due back in court later this month.

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