Posted on 05/28/2005 12:34:03 PM PDT by ambrose
Cops shoot family dog
Family upset after incident in backyard
By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
Staff Writer
Thursday, May 26, 2005 - ONTARIO - A police officer investigating a fraud case shot and killed a dog in a residential backyard Wednesday.
The 6-year-old boxer named Rocky charged at the officer when he entered the backyard in the 900 block of West G Street around noon. Police were at the home to interview a man suspected of credit card fraud and walked into the backyard because they saw him and suspected he might try to flee.
"The officer felt the dog was going to attack him, so the officer shot the dog," said Ontario police Detective Al Parra. "The officer, in backing away, trips on something and falls down on his back. He sees the dog still coming, so he fires two more shots, which killed the dog."
Family members, who were devastated by the shooting, said the dog was just doing what he was trained to do: protect the property.
"He never bit anybody. He's never hurt anybody. All he's ever done is guard his home and protect his family," said Martin Pina, who lives at the home with his wife and five children.
Martin's daughter, Gloria, said the dog was always obedient and wouldn't even run away if the family accidentally left the gate open.
"It wasn't just a dog to us. He's one of us," she said.
Police came to the home looking for Gloria's brother, Mario Pina, 23. The officer heard loud music and saw the man in the backyard, where he was doing yard work. The officer shouted at him, and when Pina didn't respond, he entered the backyard, Parra said.
Pina was arrested on suspicion of fraud and burglary and was booked into West Valley Detention Center.
Parra said it is not common that officers shoot dogs, but it sometimes occurs during arrests.
"The officer has a right to protect himself. He has a right to use deadly force if he feels he's about to be attacked by an animal."
Martin Pina argued that police shouldn't have been in his backyard because they didn't have a warrant or authorization to be there.
Police said they don't need a warrant to go into someone's backyard if they are at a residence to make an arrest and see the person in the backyard. Officers need warrants to go into someone's home, Parra said.
The incident is being investigated as an officer-involved shooting. The officer, whose name was withheld pending the outcome of the case, was not placed on administrative leave, Parra said.
Melissa Pinion-Whitt can be reached by e-mail at m_pinion-whitt@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9378.
this stuff just keeps on happening.
Wow. Second dog killing cop article I've read on FR today. I am usually on the cops' side, but this is getting ridiculous.
another one.
As a former meter reader, I find these "police shoot dog" stories rather ridiculous. Very few dogs present an actual threat of serious harm to a grown adult if that adult has had any training or experience dealing with dogs. I'm not saying that NONE do, but a whole lot fewer than the average person may think. Every video I have seen of a police shooting a dog, was of a situation that I know personally I could have handled the dog with a whole lot less lethal means. They ought to make police officers walk routes with meter readers so they could get actual experience with dogs, and maybe even work off some of those donuts at the same time.
Paging jackboot licker G.Mason to tell us why dogs, small children, and lollypops are all justifications for deadly force.
By this logic, any tresspasser--even a burglar--would be free to shoot a homeowner's dog without any consequence.
Inkeeper - No!
Clouseau is bitten
and says - I thought you said your dog doesn't bite
Inkeeper - It's not my dog.
Hmmm... Wonder if I could get those cops to shoot my liberal
lunatic neighbor? He's thoroughly doggish !!! ;-))
Police said they don't need a warrant to go into someone's backyard if they are at a residence to make an arrest and see the person in the backyard
Bit of a contradiction now isn't it?
Mace would hace worked,Police need a warrent when?
Best way to stop a dog dead in its tracks (figuratively dead, of course) is to throw something at it. Even raising your arm and hand as if you're about to throw something will do the trick. That's my experience anyway, gleaned from delivering mail as a part-time flex during two summers when I was a college student. Others may have different experiences, but I was never confronted by a dog, or even a pack of dogs, that didn't stop in its tracks when I did that.
This has gotten to be a REALLLLY lame and WORN OUT excuse used by the cops when they do something that is WRONG.
We could have done quite well without your popping in to advocate the murder of police officers.
Reminds me of this story....
Two boys in Boston were playing basketball when a rabid Rottweiler attacked one of them. Thinking quickly, the other boy ripped a board off a near by fence, wedged it into the dog's collar and twisted it, breaking the dog's neck.
A newspaper reporter from the Boston Herald witnessed the incident and rushed over to interview the boy.
The reporter began entering data into his laptop, beginning with theheadline:
"Brave Young Celtics Fan Saves Friend From Jaws Of Vicious Animal." "But I'm not a Celtics fan, 'the little hero interjected.
"Sorry, replied the reporter. "But since we're in Boston, I just assumed you were."
Hitting the delete key, the reporter began "John Kerry Fan rescues Friend From Horrific Dog Attack."
"But I'm not a Kerry fan either," the boy responds.
The reporter says, "I assumed everybody in this state was either for the Celtics or Kerry or Kennedy. What team or person do you like?"
"I'm a Houston Rockets fan and I really like George W. Bush" the boy says. Hitting the delete key, the reporter begins again,
"Arrogant Little Conservative Bastard Kills Beloved Family Pet."
Shooting an armed tresspasser is not murder, neither morally nor legally.
that is correct. Justifiable shooting. Cops job is to protect themselves first and control the scene. If there is a dog approaching in a hostile manner then it is his job to protect himself and his partner.
NOW: Did the dog deserve to be shot? Was it his fault the guy had the cops at his house because he is suspected of a crime? NO, Do I feel sorry for the dog? sure. Would I do the same thing in the situation? Most likely.
WE do not pay cops to lose street fights, or have it come close. I dont want it to be close. if the dawg looks threatening it is up to the officers judgement. The suspect brought the cops to the house through his behavior. If the guys 14 year old kid came toward the cops with a gun to protect his dad, he would be like a dead dog.
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.