Southwest told her she couldn’t fly with her dog. Her reaction got her jailed, police say.

When Southwest airline staff told Evian Gabrielle Villegas that she couldn't fly with her dog, she punched an airport police officer in the eye and spit on him, police said.

Villegas, 29, of the 5000 block of Bridgewood Drive in Durham, was checking in for a Southwest flight at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Friday when gate agents told her she did not have a ticket for her dog and could not bring it with her on the plane.

Villegas then became "belligerent," according to arrest warrants, punching airport police officer Robert Peterson in the eye and spitting on him. She also cursed at airline employees and her dog snapped and barked at other passengers, according to the warrants.

Villegas allegedly fought with law enforcement until they were able to restrain and subsequently arrest her at the airport.

She is charged with assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting serious injury, disorderly conduct at an airport terminal and resisting a public officer.

Villegas was booked into the Wake County Detention Center under a $20,000 bond.

Airport spokesman Andrew Sawyer said the airline involved was Southwest.

According to the Southwest pet policy, the airline allows small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs to travel with passengers in-cabin under the seat in front of them.

▪ All pets must be carried in an appropriate carrier.

▪ Pets are not allowed to travel in-cabin on international flights.

▪ Domestic flights are limited to six pets per flight, with one pet per paying customer.

▪ Pets cannot be checked as baggage.

▪ Pets must be harmless, not disruptive, odorless and require no attention during flight.

▪ Pets must be checked in at the airport ticket counter before going to the departure gate, where the customer is given a ticket, tag or other documentation to indicate they have paid the $95 one-way pet fare. Pet reservations must be made in advance.

"We maintain the right to refuse acceptance of a cat or dog exhibiting aggressive behavior or any other characteristics that appear incompatible with air travel," according to the Southwest pet policy.

The pet policy restrictions do not apply to assistance animals or emotional support animals accompanying a person with a disability, though Southwest does not allow customers to travel with unusual or exotic animals acting as assistance/emotional support animals. Customers traveling with emotional support animals must provide specific documentation.

Each airline has its own, specific pet policy.

This story was originally published April 23, 2018 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Southwest told her she couldn’t fly with her dog. Her reaction got her jailed, police say.."