One of these days...one of these cops trying to shoot an unarmed dog is going to experience some major brain splatter from a POed owner...and a jury will go sympathetic for the owner
I know LEOs are now trained to shoot dogs because the drug dealers use them to attack and protect dealers...but LEOs just willy nilly shooting dogs is getting to be way too much
"Freemansburg police Chief George Bruneio arrived at the rear of 440 New St. at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, just in time to see officer Robert Lasso, a Taser in his hand, fighting two dogs, according to court papers.
Bruneio implored Lasso to shoot the dogs, but the next sound Bruneio heard was a gunshot and he watched Lasso fall to the ground. Bruneio then saw George Hitcho holding a shotgun with an expended shell jammed in its ejector port, police said.
Hitcho refused Bruneio's orders to drop his weapon, according to court papers, instead telling the chief, "He's breaking into my house." Hitcho then dropped the shotgun and Bruneio cuffed him and put him in a police cruiser before returning to aid Lasso.
Bruneio told Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast, who are investigating Lasso's murder, that Lasso had a head wound and what he described as shattered glass near the fallen officer.
Lasso was pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill less than a hour later. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled the death a homicide.
According to court papers, Lasso was dispatched to 126 Washington St. at 5:06 p.m. for a disturbance. That address is separated from the rear of Hitcho's property by an alley, Peach Street. Lasso asked for assistance minutes later because he was being attacked by Hitcho's dogs, and Bruneio came to back him up, police said.
State police took Hitcho to the Belfast barracks, where he allegedly made several unsolicited comments.
According to court papers, Hitcho said the following:
• "I told him to get off my property."
• "He ain't coming on my property without a warrant."
• "He tried to kill my dogs and pointed a gun in my face."
• "I do not care if you are a cop or not."
• "Unbelievable.""