Posted on 06/21/2013 7:03:06 PM PDT by Altariel
When Rebecka Brown returned home June 5, she noticed a business card stuck in her door.
That card was from Det. Joey Cooper, a deputy with the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office.
“Naturally I called the number immediately to find out why an officer had been here,” she wrote on a Facebook page.
Det. Cooper told her he was there to serve a warrant to her husband for failure to appear in court in relation to a ticket he had received while hunting. She also found out something horrifying.
“He then told me he had to tase my dog.”
When she asked why, Brown says Det. Cooper told her that Merlin, the family’s year-old lab/boxer mix, had attacked him. “I asked him if he was okay… I was in complete shock! He said he was fine, not so much as a scratch on him.”
[Note: Merlin was attached to a 10' lead in the backyard, not roaming freely.]
“He instructed me that the taser did not shock Merlin because only one prong made a connection with him,” she said adding that Det. Cooper told her how to remove the prong. When the call ended, she went to check on her wounded pup. “Merlin wouldn’t let me near him. I could see the prong protruding from his back but but he just cowered and whined,” she said.
After several attempts to coax Merlin over so she could remove the prong, she noticed something strange about his eye. “There was a little blood under the lid of his right eye and the eyeball itself resembled an old rubber party balloon.” After she and a friend removed the prong she noticed his eyeball was ripped open.
Brown said she immediately called Det. Cooper back but got his voicemail. She then called the Sheriff’s Office to report her dog’s injuries. An hour later, she says two deputies showed up to investigate. 
“They asked to see Merlin, so I took them inside to him,” she said. “As soon as he saw them, he cowered to the side, wimpered, and started to visibly shake. The deputy took a step towards him and Merlin started to growl. He was responding to the uniform… I informed the deputy that this is not his normal behavior and that he is responding out of fear. A uniform, just like theirs, had seriously injured him…. he was afraid of another round with that uniform!”
She believes the eye injury was caused by either a flashlight or a nightstick.
Brown’s quest for accountability continued.
I tried to file a formal complaint with the Sheriff’s Department and I was shuffled away. I went to the magistrate to press charges for animal cruelty and I was told that I couldn’t because he is a law enforcement officer!!! So, I went to the district attorneys office to lodge a complaint and get an investigation underway. I was directed to the SBI (State Bureau of Investigation).”
She has also taken to the internet for justice starting a website, a Facebook page and a petition. On the Justice for Merlin Facebook page, Brown has been updating those interested in her “roadblocks” with law enforcement and the justice system, as well as Merlin’s recovery.
After multiple calls to District Attorney Scott Thomas, an internal investigation was finally started. On Wednesday, Brown says she was visited by Sheriff Asa Buck and an internal affairs officer.
Following the meeting she posted:
Both the sheriff and internal affairs feel that the investigation revealed that the deputy is without fault. He stated that he was afraid when he and Merlin met in my back yard and that the Deputy is thankful that he grabbed the taser rather than his firearm. I was further informed that the deputy had every legal right to be on the property and had a right to defend himself. They do not believe that the deputy entered my back yard with the intent of harming Merlin and that Merlin’s injuries are an unfortunate situation. After Merlin is done with all of his vet visits, I am to inform the department and they will see about getting the bills paid.
…
I honestly don’t know how I feel about all this. I’m angry that my dog was hurt. I’m very angry that my dog will never regain full sight in that eye. I’m hurt that my children are affected by this to the point that they tell me they are afraid of cops. I’m angry that the use of tasers on animals is endorsed by our county. The county considers this matter closed.
…
I’ve never known the sheriff to be anything but honorable. I am so confused and hurt.
Begin rant:
Justified? Afraid of a dog that was tied up?
There is not justification for harming an animal if you just get spooked. The deputy, according to Brown, admitted that he didn’t have a scratch on him. So how can this assault be justified?
If it had not been a law enforcement officer, the individual responsible for the injuries to Merlin would be brought up on animal cruelty charges. But because of the incestuous investigation, the perp gets to walk.
The Department shouldn’t have to compensate for the vet bills…the individual who committed the act should be the responsible party. Badges don’t grant extra rights and individuals are responsible for their own actions.
End rant.
Carteret County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Asa Buck
304 Craven Street
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 504-4800
Tying a dog may or may not make it aggressive- depends on how it is done. If a dog is tied up and neglected then I imagine you are right. If a dog is tied only when the owner cannot directly supervise it and is off the tether most of the time it won’t be aggressive at all. Tying a dog up or kenneling a dog or keeping it any other way are not bad- of course like everything else a bad owner can make it bad.
One compares like with like; comparing two unlike things is neither logically nor intellectually sound.
Go back and reread.
That makes astounding sense!
Until now, my feelings about NOT tying up dogs have been rather abstract.
. condemning all police because of a few idiots (in a group consisting of over 800K members) is just wrong and all I’m trying to say. Yet many here are more than willing to do so. That’s what I find sad.
*********************************************************************
Actually what is sad is that the dwindling percentage of good cops absolutely refuse to discipline or hold accountable the bad actors. Somebody up thread nailed it—many today go into law enforcement not “to protect and to serve” but to “rule” and “lord over” the community’s citizens (and, of course, to accrue their pensions).
Well said. :)
Lots of people leave their keys in their cars. Just because "lots of people" do something doesn't automatically mean it's responsible. "Lots of people," may even get away with leaving a dog tied up, their doors unlocked or their keys in the car and never have a problem with it. That still doesn't mean it's the smartest, most prudent or responsible thing to do.
"...it is a responsible thing to do so the dog doesn’t get in trouble; which normally works fine."
How is it more responsible than leaving the animal inside? If you say that the dog might chew things, tear up the house, etc. then I'd refer you back to my contention that the person has not invested the time to train and discipline the dog that they should.
"We don’t know what kind of pet owner this lady is but I don’t agree that tying one out or kenneling one is a bad thing- depends on how it is done."
By my criterion, I do know...she's an irresponsible pet owner. I've had dogs my whole life, and lived in all kind of conditions from a little house on the prairie in White City, Kansas where I could stand on my roof and see nothing but cornfields, to a little apartment in downtown Seoul, and lots of places in between. I've never had the need to tie a dog up outside, unsupervised. I've certainly had to make some sacrifices in my personal life, my daily routine and my social activities, but those go with the territory of responsible dog ownership. If somebody isn't up to it, they shouldn't own a dog. Too many people buy a dog as a fashion or fancy and fail to research and grasp the full implications of what will be required of them. The dogs pay the price.
Again, I guess I need to repeat it here because nobody seems to pay attention to the 30 times I've already stated as much on this thread, this in no way absolves the officer for tasing the dog, but more care could have been taken on the lady's part to protect it.
She may have been at work or running errands. It depends on how accessible her yard is and a lot of other things we don’t know. We don’t know if she is in an area with no neighbors or kids. Thing is she is not the bad guy here, the cop that abused her dog is. Just a few weeks ago a cop killed a man’s dog inside his apartment. No one can directly supervise their dog 24/7 it is not possible. Cops have killed dogs with the owner standing right there so supervision is not the issue when it comes to dogs being harmed or killed by cops.
I agree if you live somewhere where others have access to your dog then it is not safe to tie one out- even stray dogs can come attack it. We don’t know her situation though we do know a cop abused her dog.
No, dear.
It is you who have problems keeping track of what you’ve written.
I replied to ~your~ accusation that she wanted all cops done away with.
In case you have forgotten:
“So, what you are saying is that all cops are a$$holes and we should do away with the concept of a police force.”
You clearly spoke as though she had stated that somewhere.
Might want to watch your petard on the way out.
Just gotta think like a dog, KittenClaws.
:)
If off the tether most of the time, sure, it won’t be aggressive; but, based on my observation, if it’s on it most of the time it definitely will be. So we agree.
T’warn’t nuthin’.
:)
That was like sweet Halla.
Now those I have are like “Wolfen”...;D
Being tied up is really no difference from being fenced in.
dumb evil “sheriff” I hope he gets boils and hemorrhoids
I get that now!
Tied dogs always seemed so aggressive and mean, I just thought of how I would feel if I was tied all of the time, but flight or fight? Never occurred to me.
It makes. Perfect sense!
But, still no reason to tase the poor animal.
I'm really getting tired of repeating myself on this thread.
Again, if I park my car in a bad part of town (or even a good part for that matter), leave the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked and walk away and somebody comes and steals my car, the person that steals my car is the bad guy. He is not justified in stealing my car. I'm not the bad guy, but I'm still a dumbass for leaving my car vulnerable and unattended.
You have a long litany of things "we do not know" about this situation.
I'll just give you one thing we do know about it.
We know the cop did not go in the house.
It’s the impression I get from all her negative post about cops.
As for watching my petard ... I stand by my comments.
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