Posted on 08/07/2014 3:07:14 PM PDT by Altariel
ERIE COUNTY, NY — (EXCLUSIVE) — A family was traumatized when gun-wielding police officers walked onto their quiet property and shot their dog in the head while looking for a man who did not live there.
Megan Shimburski, 25, was spending a quiet afternoon with her children at her parents’ countryside East Concord residence on July 25, 2014. It was a normal day, she said, which involved watching her 5-year-old daughter play behind the house with their dog, as her infant son lied in a playpen inside the house.
Ms. Shimburski’s parents, John Shimburski and Martha Spaulding, were not at home when the day turned to chaos.
At around 2:00 p.m., Ms. Shimburski recalled that she ducked inside the house for a moment to use the restroom. She became alerted to something occurring when the family’s two dogs began barking; one was inside and one was outside the house.
Ms. Shimburski said that she looked out the window and saw two vehicles parked outside — a car and an SUV — along with unidentified men, one of whom had a gun drawn.
Panicked, she rushed outside toward danger to attend to her daughter, Makenna, who was accompanied by “Lady,” a 2-year-old Brindle Pit Bull.
The Shimburski family’s “big baby,” called Lady. (Source: Megan Shimburski) “I heard 2 shots fired, and Lady yelp, and my daughter scream,” Ms. Shimburski told Police State USA.
The armed stranger had just shot the family’s beloved pet in the head, with Makenna standing “20 feet behind [the dog] in the exact same direction.”
“He then proceeded to continue walking up the hill with his gun raised, and I screamed at him not to shoot his gun again,” she added.
Ms. Shimburski says that there was no clear indication of who the intruders were; there were no markings on the vehicles and the three men were not in uniforms. She described them as dressed in “business attire” — definitely not uniforms.
“I stated that I was going to call the police, and that’s when they said, ‘We are the Erie County Police,’” Ms. Shimburski recalled.
The men began then began to request to enter her parents’ home. Ms. Shimburski declined, and tended to her children and dogs. Lady was bleeding profusely. Makenna was cowering nearby crying, “The man shot Lady. He shot my dog.”
As Ms. Shimburski took her daughter inside, she discovered that two of the self-described “officers” had already entered her parents’ home, after she had explicitly told them to stay out.
“They were yelling at me to tell my daughter it was OK,” she said.
The young mom secured her daughter in a bedroom along with the second dog that had been indoors. Her parents quickly arrived after being notified about what had happened.
The reason for the intrusion was finally made known when they announced that they were looking for the father of Ms. Shimburski’s son. The family told the officers that the man they were seeking had never lived there, didn’t receive mail at the address, and that they should have tried looking for him at his own home.
The police had not brought a warrant, and said they only wanted to ask the man some questions. They continued to request a search of the home.
“I didn’t mean to GRAZE her.”
Meanwhile Lady, described as a “67-pound big baby,” was hiding under the deck, covered in blood. A bullet had traveled through the tissue on her head, neck, and shoulder. A large, open gash allowed blood to pour down her face into her eyes and nose. It was a shocking sight for the family.
“The officer stated that he had just ‘grazed’ her, and that she would be fine,” Ms. Shimburski recalled. “I looked at him and said, ‘You did not graze her!!’ His words were, ‘I didn’t mean to GRAZE her.’”
The shooter — [later identified as Erie County Sheriff's Detective Greg McCarthy] — claimed he shot in self-defense because the dog was “charging and barking.” Ms. Shimburski says that he exaggerated the dog’s actions and the distance he was standing from her when he fired. No one was bitten or in danger, she said, and the dog was coming from the back to the front of the house to investigate the strange visitors.
“My child could have been shot,” Ms. Shimburski said to Police State USA. “She now has the idea that these people who were there to protect people are bad people,” and added that she may need counseling. “I stated that not all cops are bad but at this point I don’t think she’s going to trust them.”
Lady ultimately survived, after an emergency surgery, 60 metal stitches, and $1,200.00 in veterinarian bills.
“The police did not leave names or numbers, nor did they show any remorse,” Ms. Shimburski said. In fact, she had been left with no paperwork; no business card; no record whatsoever of what had happened.
Regardless, the family attempted to get past the incident. Young Makenna dealt with confused feelings about the shooting and Lady slowly recovered from her injuries at home. Ms. Shimburski did not even have a confirmed phone number to call regarding the incident. Until 11 days later…
A “Dangerous Animal”
The family found that their troubles were not yet over on August 5th, when police returned for another visit. This time, they brought paperwork: a document that read “Order to Seize Dog.”
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office, unsatisfied that Lady had survived the first encounter, had sought out another legal method of killing her. Describing Lady as “dangerous dog — pit bull,” the document authorized deputies to “seize the said dog harbored by the said Megan Shimburski” and to “hold, care for, or dispose of” Lady, pursuant to New York’s Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 7, Section 123.
The deputy and an animal control officer took Lady away to the animal warden, leaving her with an uncertain fate. Pending a court date on August 12th, Lady may be euthanized if found to be a “dangerous dog.”
The document was signed by Gene R. Heintz, Justice of the Town of Sardina. It also confirms that the men at the property on July 25th were Erie County Sheriff’s Office detectives Graham, Noecher, and McCarthy. The man who shot Lady was Detective Greg McCarthy.
“I am outraged and disgusted by their behavior,” Ms. Shimburski said in an interview. “They put my child’s life in danger because of their negligence. Lady did not deserve this in any way because she is not in any way a dangerous or aggressive dog.”
Click here for more stories of Puppycide from Police State USA.
(Source: Megan Shimburski) { Support Police State USA }
Accountability Check
Erie County Sheriff’s Office (New York) Phone: (716) 858-7608 Email: sheriff@erie.gov Facebook: Link
Gene R. Heintz, Justice of the Town of Sardina Phone: (716) 496-8903 Email: Justice.sardinia@roadrunner.com
“there has been a huge increase in the number of “dangerous” and “vicious” dogs across the country.”
there has been a huge increase in the number of “dangerous” and “vicious” cops across the country.
There, fixed it.
Really? What was he saying?
Smart kid.
That’ll work!
Chode: “yup, i tried looking for a pic on the web but haven’t found one yet”
There’s an idea: Stencil; spray paint; a late-night visit to the cop-shop parking lot (or Dunkin’ Donuts). Places like Hobby Lobby probably have all kinds of animal stencils.
Just call it “civil disobedience.”
Sorry bout the dog but, the writing in general is atrocious i.e.: “her infant son lied in a playpen inside the house.”
Lied in a playpen? Hmmmm, Oh K.
The writing seems to be written by someone still using crayons and simultaneously coloring outside the lines. An intellect such as that probably still has plays with Barbie Dolls and a deep relationship with Ken Doll.
As for the cop, he’s a real Dick. “I only grazed the dog”.
Yeah, really? You shot it in the freakin head, yuh lump.
Real sentimental of you to marginalize your actions. It’s all about you!
Incorrect address? Entering a home with no warrant, no intelligence confirming your target is at that location, and! And! Getting the wrong address?
Oh, ho, ho, ho...priceless and dense.
Even more galling? No exigency requiring pursuit into a private property.
Are there no boundaries you won’t cross?
Thresholds don’t matter either.
you’re a regular Supercop.
Fag...
^ THIS!!!! ^
showme_the_Glory, just wait until certain “groups” or “classes” of people start getting capped *just because cops can*.
“Well, it ~was~ a black/hispanic/homeless vet...just sayin’.” /sniveling whine
My God, this place is rife with wonderful stupidity, of late.
No wonder this country is going to Hell.
Ersatz “conservatives” read the words “pit bull” and leap into full fascist-liberal-nanny state mode.
As long as the jackboots kill the things *you* hate, it’s all good.
You make me sick.
You make me sick.
Uh, you did read my post #58 didn't you? That's the one you replied to.
It’s a big leap from vicious dog groups to people but I’m sure you can make it. Whether the neighbor shot it, the cops shot it or you shot it, I’m glad it’s not around to chomp on someones kids or grandkids. Sorry, just a hater of the pit bull breed. Sorry you’re sick /sniveling whine.
i love it...
I couldn’t agree with Salamander more.
Why do you ignorant obama voters even come to FR?
Note, pig shoots my pit then I shoot pig.
Jus’ saying.
I am agreeing with you wholeheartedly.
I pinged you as a courtesy.
Right on!
LOL!
Love that.
*Anybody’s* house can be the “wrong house”, now and they’ll get away with it.
It freaking astonishes me that some people are so obsessed with what kind of dog was shot *this* time that they will wholesale excuse and justify it.
Too many closet liberals on this forum.
Sigh, wish I was on a bike
I don’t care for certain dogs but, I don’t kill things “Just Cuz”.
I pick up bees and spiders and just put em outside, where they belong.
Pit Bulls are lil babies, like the rest of their doggie nation and they don’t deserve to be attacked, maimed or killed except they represent a very real threat.
I’ve told more than one dog to sit or stop and they always do.
It’s a command by someone who can out think you and has opposable thumbs.
They always get the message.
Hate killin life without a valid reason.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
