Posted on 08/19/2011 4:20:35 PM PDT by Immerito
A federal jury awarded $333,000 to a Chicago family Thursday after Chicago police officers raided its South Side home with guns drawn and shot its dog in a search that found no criminal activity in the apartment.
Teenage brothers Thomas and Darren Russell were in their second-floor apartment in the 9200 block of South Justine Street in February 2009 when officers announced they had a warrant to search both units of the two-flat. Thomas Russell, then 18, opened the door and found officers with their guns drawn, according to the lawsuit. Russell said that he put his hands in the air and asked permission to lock up his 9-year-old black Labrador, Lady, before they entered.
Police refused the request and came into the house, the lawsuit said. When Lady came loping around the corner with her tail wagging, Officer Richard Antonsen shot the dog, according to the suit, which alleged excessive force, false arrest and illegal seizure for taking the dog's life.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Thought you’d be interested.
At least the family got compensation, though it would be better if the compensation was completely taken from the cops’ pensions & salaries.
that amount of $$ wouldn’t even come close to compensating me for the dog i have right now. but maybe a tire iron in a dark room with the trigger happy cop would be some restitution. about and hour ‘s worth of time would be some solice.
Not my dog! When our door bill rings, she gives me a look that says”You get it—I’m busy” She doesn’t bark—nothing!
If I wanted or needed a watch dog, my labradoodle surely isn’t it—LOL!
Cops should be made to pay for the dogs they shoot out of their own salary. Forget having the taxpayers pay.
Bfl.
Next,,,, They’ll start shooting catz!
Cops have right to shoot anyone that could potentially cause them harm. And dogs can certainly cause harm. I have heard of stories where mailmen have been mauled by dogs.
A tail wagging dog, with tongue slapping around its cheek, is waging war on mechanical and biological levels. Those wagging tails have known to knock grown cops down and transmit fleas, while slapping tongues spit out saliva that harmful bacteria and even rabies.
Lets see which sounds loudest — a dog or a Glock 23!
Good.
That's right, they consider it the same as shooting an officer. You can go to jail for life! Even if the dog attacks you for no reason!
I say throw the pigs in jail for at least 5 years and... they have to cough up the jury award. But that's just me!
The cops shot the dog on purpose to terrorize the kids into talking.
The kid was falsely arrested for NO REASON which is why the fines were so high.
I’ve got two dogs and neither the Lab nor the pit bull/greyhound mix could be bothered going to answer the door
For the right to live in your home, you pay $2,000 every year in property taxes. Or $3,000?, $10,000, or more?
Why isn't the officer responsible paying the damages?
“The jury awarded Thomas Russell $175,000, Darren Russell $85,000 and their parents $35,000 each. The jury also awarded the family $2,000 in punitive damages, levied against Antonsen for shooting the dog, and $1,000, against the police supervisor who made the decision to arrest Thomas Russell.”
The cops should have paid the full $333,000. Not 3,000 of it.
Labs - one of least aggressive, most lovable dogs breeds in existence.
It depends on the dog. Some dogs go to the door every time; some dogs go to the door sometimes, and others consider answering the door to be the human’s job.
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.