Rottweilerlvr
03-01-2007, 04:46 AM
This doesn't surprise me at all with all the crap going on in Missouri...
Police, owner debate shooting of loose bulldog
By Robert Hite
The Examiner
A Sugar Creek police officer used a shotgun to kill a dog last week, and the dog's owner complained to the Board of Alderman Monday that the shooting could have been avoided.
Police Chief Herb Soule apologized for what happened, but said he cannot discipline the officer because he acted within the city ordinance.
Theresa Kelsey, the owner of a bulldog, said she was accepting a package from the mail carrier Tuesday when the dog slipped by her and went out the door. She said she went out after the dog calling for him.
"Buster was approaching me. Buster was coming to me," she said about the time just before the officer shot.
Officer Jerry Garcia pulled up in his car shortly before 1 p.m. after being called to the 11600 block of Ridge Drive, Soule said. A 911 call was made by two people who were afraid the dog might attack them. One neighbor distracted the dog while his wife went in the house. The officer then distracted the dog while the man went in the house.
"The officer relayed that it might be a pit bull," Soule said. "There was no evil intent. He did what he thought he should have done."
He said Garcia went back to his car. He got out again and the dog attacked him. The dog attacked twice.
Kelsey gave a different story.
"I was there," she said. "To me the whole story wasn't told."
Kelsey said when the officer drove up, her dog, stopped.
The officer acknowledged that she was there, she said.
"That's when I screamed 'don't shoot my dog'. I was screaming," Kelsey said through tears. "He wasn't barking and wasn't even growling."
"I don't think it's right that this happened."
Soule said the people whom the dog first threatened confirmed Garcia's account. He said the officer followed city ordinance regarding what to do when a dog attacks someone.
Soule said he was on his way to the scene, but did not get there before the dog was shot.
"If it would have been me, I would Tased it or used a night stick," he said.
Soule said officers need more training regarding similar situations.
Alderman Joseph Kenney said the shooting may have happened more quickly than it should have.
"It seems like it was in a little haste," he said.
Joe Kelsey said more investigation is needed.
He said the address was wrong and his wife's name was misspelled in the report.
"That's how much investigation was done," he said.
Reach Robert Hite at robert.hite@examiner.net or 816-350-6321.
http://www.examiner.net/stories/022707/new_022707005.shtml
Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys Pit Bull Rescue & Education
Defending Dog ~ Fight Breed Discrimination!
Visit us on MySpace
Shop the Bully Boutique
Police, owner debate shooting of loose bulldog
By Robert Hite
The Examiner
A Sugar Creek police officer used a shotgun to kill a dog last week, and the dog's owner complained to the Board of Alderman Monday that the shooting could have been avoided.
Police Chief Herb Soule apologized for what happened, but said he cannot discipline the officer because he acted within the city ordinance.
Theresa Kelsey, the owner of a bulldog, said she was accepting a package from the mail carrier Tuesday when the dog slipped by her and went out the door. She said she went out after the dog calling for him.
"Buster was approaching me. Buster was coming to me," she said about the time just before the officer shot.
Officer Jerry Garcia pulled up in his car shortly before 1 p.m. after being called to the 11600 block of Ridge Drive, Soule said. A 911 call was made by two people who were afraid the dog might attack them. One neighbor distracted the dog while his wife went in the house. The officer then distracted the dog while the man went in the house.
"The officer relayed that it might be a pit bull," Soule said. "There was no evil intent. He did what he thought he should have done."
He said Garcia went back to his car. He got out again and the dog attacked him. The dog attacked twice.
Kelsey gave a different story.
"I was there," she said. "To me the whole story wasn't told."
Kelsey said when the officer drove up, her dog, stopped.
The officer acknowledged that she was there, she said.
"That's when I screamed 'don't shoot my dog'. I was screaming," Kelsey said through tears. "He wasn't barking and wasn't even growling."
"I don't think it's right that this happened."
Soule said the people whom the dog first threatened confirmed Garcia's account. He said the officer followed city ordinance regarding what to do when a dog attacks someone.
Soule said he was on his way to the scene, but did not get there before the dog was shot.
"If it would have been me, I would Tased it or used a night stick," he said.
Soule said officers need more training regarding similar situations.
Alderman Joseph Kenney said the shooting may have happened more quickly than it should have.
"It seems like it was in a little haste," he said.
Joe Kelsey said more investigation is needed.
He said the address was wrong and his wife's name was misspelled in the report.
"That's how much investigation was done," he said.
Reach Robert Hite at robert.hite@examiner.net or 816-350-6321.
http://www.examiner.net/stories/022707/new_022707005.shtml
Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys Pit Bull Rescue & Education
Defending Dog ~ Fight Breed Discrimination!
Visit us on MySpace
Shop the Bully Boutique