Officer Shoots Dog During Drug Raid

The Tampa Triune ^ | Jan 23, 2006 | By JULIE PACE jpace@tampatrib.com

[MRMEAN]

TAMPA - When Maria Rosas heard gunshots coming from the back yard of her east Tampa home, her first thought was that people were getting shot.

Once the situation calmed down, Rosas realized the targets of the gunfire were her dogs. The person shooting was a Tampa police officer.

That officer, Joe Blanco, was part of five-person narcotics team trying to get into a house on 26th Street. A person inside the house was wanted on a warrant, Lt. Craig Roberts said.

Because Rosas' home at 3406 N. 10th St. is adjacent to the one Blanco was trying to get to, the officer tried to cut through her back yard. That's where Rosas' two dogs - Kio and Conan, both mixed breeds - were kept.

Roberts said the dogs attacked Blanco so ferociously he shot at them. Blanco fired about six shots, Roberts said, hitting Kio in the back leg but missing Conan.

The dogs bit Blanco several times on his elbows, arms and hips, and he was taken to Tampa General Hospital. Kio was taken to Hillsborough County's Department of Animal Control for treatment and tests.

Roberts said the person the narcotics officers were pursuing got away during the altercation with the dogs.

A sign near Rosas' driveway warns of a guard dog on the premises. Blanco entered the yard from the opposite side and was probably unable to see the sign, Roberts said.

It was the second time in two days a local law enforcement officer shot a pet dog. On Saturday, Hillsborough County sheriff's Deputy Jason Roberts shot and injured a pit bull mix lunging at him while he answered a call in Riverview.

Rosas' brother, Juan Ramirez, said 1-year-old Kio was a stray that his sister rescued. Because Kio is unregistered and may not have had vaccinations, Rosas could be fined, Roberts said.

[HairOfTheDog]

Had it been my yard there might have been an "accidental" shooting of an intruder who was shooting at my dogs.

I'm amazed, if they go trespassing through neighbor's yards in the dark, they aren't confronted more often! If there were people inside my fenced yard at night, that would scare the daylights out of me... and I'd grab a gun before checking it out.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[Sybeck1]

First thing the ATF did at the Waco raid was shoot the dogs that were tied to the fence. Seems to be something tought at the academy.

[Emmalein]

All the more reason to arm your dogs.

It's a thought but I'd have too many carcasses around my house--birds, squirrels, chipmunks, deer. "I'll get you, you thilly wabbit!"

[Emmalein]

Extra treats for the dogs. I bet they'll be much friendlier the next time a policeman shows up in their yard. Not.

Welcome back chicky. I noticed you started posting again. ;-)

[Dead Corpse]

OK so let me get this straight here... a police officer, in the process of enforcing blatantly unconstitutional laws, felt it necessary to shoot and kill the pets of a totally innocent neighbor in order to fulfill his perceived duty?

Don't forget, the cop was trespassing while doing so. They may have had a warrant for the drug dealer, but apparently not one for the gal with the dogs. Absent the owners permission, or other emergency (giving chase), it is blatant trespass.

[xarmydog]

Took the words straight out of my mouth.Shooting my dogs because you are too stupid to have your act together is not an option.My dogs are family to me.The last 4 days my 10 year old wiener dog quit eating,and I am worried to death.My big dog would end up with a broken heart as she worships the little one.I swore I wouldn't have any more dogs after these,but I may have to get one to keep her company.Screw stupid cops.

[GBA]

"When you're in the dog's yard, your ass belongs to the dog."

Ab-so-freaking-lutely. That dog was doing it's job, too bad the cop wasn't able to do his. At least for the dogs' he wasn't a good shot.

[xarmydog]

Had an encounter with a Constable dumb as him.Wife went to bingo and I felt sleepy,so I locked my gate so no one came and bothered me.At night I put the dogs in the garage.So here I am sleeping,a knock comes on my door waking me up.Knowing I had the door and my ranch gate closed,[I live in a secluded place]I grab my magnum and look out the window to the front porch,unseen of course,adrenaline pumping,I see a hat.The whole time I have my pistol aiming at the hat.I come around to the front door,opening it with my left hand with my pistol in my right.My friends know when my gate is locked it is for a reason,so I knew it was not someone I knew.There he stands with a warrant for someone who hasn't lived here for over 6 yrs.The look on his face he knew he had screwed up.I opened the door,and in no uncertain terms said what the f___k are you doing?He did not see the pistol because I still had it behind the door.I said,can you read?He said yes.I said you didn't see all the no trespassing signs,and the beware of dogs sign?He said yes,and thats when I opened the door and brought up my pistol.I told him what made him climb my gate and trespass?His reply was,he thought the people he had the warrant for were trying to hide.I gave him a toungelashing you wouldn't believe,all the while waving the pistol.I asked him if it was worth dying for the 50 dollars he would have made serving the warrant.Then he had the nerve to try and serve it to me!I said do I look Spanish to you?He said no.I said you have 5 seconds to get off my property,and I started counting.He asked if I would open the fence to let him out.I said get out the way you came in.4 3 2 1 He was gone.I wish I had a picture of him climbing that fence on the way out!I felt bad afterwards because he has known my wife all her life,but there was still no excuse for stupidity.

[sinkspur]

No dogs were killed. Six shots from a cop, and one dog gets it in a hind leg.

Funny.

[thoughtomator]

So is the officer going to be charged with the appropriate crimes (and they are numerous - trespass, multiple counts of illegal discharge of a firearm, animal abuse, and more)?

Or does he get a pass because he was doing the will of Allah pharmaceutical companies the feds?

[thoughtomator]

Not fer lack o' tryin'! Six shots, sheesh. If there's not two dogs dead in four shots or less he shouldn't be paid to wield a firearm.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The dogs bit Blanco several times on his elbows, arms and hips...

Should a trespasser expect anything less?

[xarmydog]

I didn't mean to rant,but the house I live in used to be the home of some major dealers.Scumbags still come here looking for the people who used to live here.My wife used to hate guns,but now she has no qualms about carrying her 25 auto.These people moved out of town 6 yrs.ago.I very rarely leave here for that very reason.I wasn't scared for me,but what if it had been scumbags instead of a dumb Constable?Or if my wife was home alone?I know if she had been home alone,she would have freaked out.I live in a private secluded place,picked for that reason alone.No neighbors.I have a little shooting range behind my house.I can shoot all day,and not a person can hear it,and I live two miles from town.Only bad part is it is within walking distance from town.

[Zerano]

I hope the cop has to pay for the bills

Not only that, but gets charged for destruction of property also...for killing the dogs & tearing up Ms. Rosa's fence.

[festus]

;On Saturday, Hillsborough County sheriff's Deputy Jason Roberts shot and injured a pit bull

My only regret is they didn't kill the pit bull.

[Zerano]

The WoD fanatics are almost as scary as the Islamofanatics

I'd say they're a helluva lot worse....after all, they have the force of law behind them.

[Cap'n Crunch]

The cop should sue the homeowner for not having sufficient warning signs around the fence.