Posted on 06/28/2013 9:52:04 PM PDT by Altariel
CHICAGO (CN) - Police officers in a Chicago suburb sat in front of a home for 20 minutes, then without any provocation shot the family dog, who had been calmly sitting on the front porch, the dog's owner claims in court.
Randy Green sued the Village of South Holland, police Officer Chad Barden and other unknown officers, in Federal Court.
South Holland, pop. 21,000, is a southern suburb of Chicago.
"On Sunday, July 22, 2012, two South Holland Police Officers arrived in separate vehicles at the home of Randy Green between 9-10 am, to investigate a purported dog off-leash (at large)," the complaint states.
"Upon information and belief, a caller had identified the dog at large as 'a big old gray dog runnin' around.' The caller made no mention of the dog being dangerous, vicious, or aggressive. ...
"The two South Holland officers arrived while plaintiff Randy Green and his family were asleep inside of their home, and where Mr. Green's Cane Corso dog, Grady, was sitting on the front porch.
"Upon information and belief, the chain holding Grady in the Green family backyard had popped, allowing Grady to be off leash on and around Mr. Green's residence.
"Both South Holland officers were equipped with dog-catching poles in the trunks of their vehicles, but neither attempted to use the dog-catching poles to capture the purported dog at large.
"South Holland officer Chad Barden stood, with his gun drawn, near the Green family home while the dog Grady sat on the front porch.
"The accompanying South Holland officer stood, leaning against his own police vehicle, approximately 100 feet away from Officer Chad Barden.
"The dog Grady walked past both officers on more than one occasion without incident, thereafter lazily returning to the front porch of the Green residence.
"At no time did the dog Grady make physical contact with either officer.
"The South Holland police officers stood outside the Green family home for approximately twenty minutes.
"At this time, the dog Grady approached Officer Barden again as he was standing nearest the Green family home.
"Shortly thereafter, Officer Barden shot the dog Grady three times for no reason."
Grady, wounded, ran into the back yard and Green "rushed outside" to help him and take him to a vet.
Citing an "Expert Report," Green claims that "video surveillance footage from the Green family residence revealed the absence of any charging, lunging or showing of teeth by the dog Grady and instead showed the dog Grady seeking 'greater distance between the officer and himself,' displaying 'calming [body] signals' by 'looking away from the officers and showing his [Grady's] flank,' and moving in a 'trot.'" (Brackets in complaint.)
The family immediately "took Grady to an emergency veterinary facility where Grady was treated," the complaint states.
Meanwhile, "South Holland police officers walked onto the residential property of Randy Green, including his backyard and other private areas near his home," Green claims.
A month later, South Holland police delivered a letter accusing Green of having a dangerous dog.
Green seeks damages for unreasonable seizure, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act, and malicious prosecution.
He is represented by Anna Morrison-Ricordati.
"I swear! I know nothing about the missing bacon from this morning! Or last night's steak. Or Tuesday's hamburgers. How could you possibly....wait a minute...."
"You. You ratted me out to Da Boss."
it is clear the storylines here are not the same. the dogs were not behaving the same. the chitown cops waited 20 minutes to try to find some kind of excuse to shoot a harmless dog, found none, then went up on the porch and unloaded 3 shots into the lying down dog who then ran away wounded. the hitcho officer was responding to a totally different type of call, knowing it was a neighbor dispute asking george to come out and talk.
That would explain the increase in Sudden Doghadi Syndrome.
Freegards,
One piece of advice.
Get any pertinent video saved on an alternate computer, as you never know when those cops will want your video as, “evidence”.
The cop entered the back yard without legal justifiable reason and threatened the dogs contained there without justification.
The cop should of approached the front door to confront the resident wrt his behavior regarding his driving.
We have learned to keep the counter "clean".
No, they need to serve some HARD time.
Shooting any critter should only happen when said critter presents a danger to yourself or the public, or you're gathering food.
I sincerely hope that your comment was sarcasm.
Drag your cursor over my post...
Not all of us actually take the time to look for secret messages all the time...
It is not just shooting dogs....
Before leaving the USSA for good in 2004, I noticed that cops, even in small towns, had morphed from being the “good old boy” to being jack-booted thugs, who thought of themselves
as lord and master over the citizens.
Put your cursor on the first character of my post, hold down the button, and drag the cursor down a line.
Ack! You got me!
Drag your cursor over my post...
Thats OK just because the dog is dead does not mean he cannot VOTE..
Its Chicago for pitys sake..
They STOMP on the kittens!
Sounds like they have it all on video. I hope they end up owning the local police franchise.
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Well, until they actually start terminating “officers” who engage in such conduct and remove their ability to “serve” further (thus not letting them “earn” a beloved pension) such conduct will continue.
So, yes, let the dog owners now “own” the local cops, but also let them “own” the individual officers.
I can picture the owner shooting "the dog that shot my dog" and it will turn very ugly - police will have no option but to put whole families down if they feel the need to kill a dog....
I assume Mr. Green owes a phone...what the hell happened to common sense...
"Mr. Green...this is the police officer in front of your house, your dog got loose, can you please get him under control and back on a leash...?
Well, they are big dogs... and tough.
You know... One day, someone is going to lose it, and kill a cop or two when they shoot the family dog. When it happens, I hope they just follow the threee “S” cardinal rules (shoot, shovel, shutup). I have absolutely no empathy/sympathy for city/county -paid criminals when this occurs. I view it as cleaning up the gene pool.
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