Charged with taunting K-9, man lands in doghouse- attack on 6th amendment

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | October 11,2007 | Linda Wilson Fuoco

[I_Like_Spam]

A North Side man discovered the hard way that taunting and threatening a police officer's K-9 dog is a felony offense in Pennsylvania.

Kenneth King, 23, of 106 Sherman Ave., has been in the Allegheny County Jail since Sunday because he has been unable to come up with the $100,000 bond set by District Judge Eugene Ricciardi.

[I_Like_Spam]

I absolutely don't approve of teasing police dogs(or any other animal). But the idea of demanding a $100,000 bond for the offense of teasing a police dog, assessed by Judge Riccardi , a longtime Democrat Party operative and liberal here in Pittsburgh, is way over the line and in violation of the 6th Amendment prohibition against excessive bail. Mr. King, the accused in this case, is a citizen with a job.

I've never heard of a $100,000 bail in this case, particularly as the accused isn't a career criminal.

[ConservativeMind]

It is outrageous to think teasing a dog is a felony in any context.

Killing a dog should never be a felony, let alone taunting it. Misdemeanors, perhaps, but never a felony.

It is a simple property crime.

Is it a felony to taunt a human? Even a president?

[mdittmar]

A Police Dog is a member of the Police Force,nuff said.

[I_Like_Spam]

Taunting the police usually gets you a baton on the side of your head (well deserved by the way).

Certainly not an indeterminate stay in the hoosegow, pending the outcome of the charges/trial.

[SIDENET]

The man screamed "shut the (expletive) up or I will shank you," according to the report filed by Benny's handler and partner, officer Ron Absten, who indicated the threat was directed at the dog. Mr. King also said "I hate dogs" and pulled a silver knife out of his pocket.

Police dogs are part of the police force.

F this guy.

[KJC1]

Police dogs (and horses) are considered law enforcement officers, though to a lesser degree than human officers.

The bail does sound excessive, I do agree with you on that since it involved “teasing” not killing or maiming.

[KJC1]

I meant to say “taunting” not “teasing.”

[puppypusher]

In most states that act would be an act of Breach of Peace,Which is a Misdemeanor. A police officer can have his peace breached and that would be the only charge that would apply.

Thank God I don’t live in that State.Next thing you know they’ll give you life in prison for spitting on the sidewalk.

By the way I was a Police Officer.

[NonValueAdded]

Pulling a knife, silver or not, seems to be a step beyond teasing or taunting. Too bad the dog didn’t dispense instant justice.

[mdittmar]

Well,guess that’s up to the Judge;)

[freekitty]

Career criminal or not; he threatened the dog with a knife.

[samm1148]

“Thank God I don’t live in that State.Next thing you know they’ll give you life in prison for spitting on the sidewalk.”

It’s getting that way here. The cops are becoming nothing but uniformed thugs collecting loot, I mean fines from otherwise law abiding citizens. It was a freaking dog for Chrissakes. What the guy did was stupid, and I agree with you on the breach of peace thing—but 100,000?

[mdittmar]

By the way I was a Police Officer.

Thanks

Police Officers have a tough job,they have to deal with @ssholes like Mr.King all the time.

[ikka]

A Police Dog is a member of the Police Force,nuff said.

A dog, like any other animal, is property. What next, does a Chevy fan serve time if he mocks the Ford the cop is driving?

[Revel]

OK so this all began when the dog was taunting this man. The dog was barking at him for just walking by. So my suggestion is that there should be some kind of charges that this man can come up with for police misconduct. The dog harassed(threatened) him. The officer did not have his dangerous weapon under control.
This story makes police offers sound like arrogant biggets!

[oldfart]

I don’t believe any dog should have the status of ‘Police Officer’ though I’ve met several police officers who fit the profile of dogs.
BTW, I too hate dogs.

[mdittmar]

Tell it to peta.

[NurdlyPeon]

I think this is probably just the “system” messing with this guy. Taunting or threatening the dog is legally probably not that big of a deal, so the "system" is messing with this guy by setting his bail real high. The $100,000 was not a fine, just bail. When you directly mess with the cops (or their dogs), I don’t think it's unreasonable or unexpected that the cops are going to take a little “behind the scenes” revenge. It was either the $100,000 bail, or accidentally "losing" his paperwork for 3 days. Ya f*ck with the bull, ya get the horn.

[I_Like_Spam]

The accused in this case is apparently a jerk. I can understand the police roughing him up a bit, maybe even a baton to the side of the head.

But when another gentleman here in Pittsburgh stuck a gun in my ear for the purpose of robbing me, his bail was only $10,000. (He didn’t make it and served 5 years, BTW).

It just seems totally excessive, particularly as King is apparently someone with a job.

[NurdlyPeon]

The accused in this case is apparently a jerk. I can understand the police roughing him up a bit, maybe even a baton to the side of the head.

But then the cops would get in trouble.

It just seems totally excessive, particularly as King is apparently someone with a job.

Of course it's excessive. That's the whole point. I know that cops are suppose to develop a certain degree of professional detachment, and if the perp had just called the cop a pig or something, the cop might have just blown it off. But messing with the cops dog, that's like messing with the cops child. A real, real bad move.