Posted on 11/21/2007 12:36:37 PM PST by Lurker
A Teton County, Idaho family is outraged after they say a sheriff's deputy tried to murder their dog in their own front yard.
The Barboza family has owned their dog Bobby for five years. A few days ago they say a Teton County Idaho Sheriff's Deputy knocked on their door demanding to see the dog.
Leonel Barboza, Dog Owner: "He says, 'I'm here to put him down. I'm here to kill him.'"
The officer told Leo Barboza there had been a complaint Bobby had bitten someone.
Barboza: "I said, 'Do you have any proof or anything?' He says, 'I don't need any proof.'"
So Leo got the dog while the deputy pulled out a rifle from his car. They walked a few feet from the Barboza's home where Leo's wife and his three year old son were inside.
Leo and the officer tied the dog to a pole when the deputy fired three shots. The dog then collapsed. Leo's son heard the gunshots and opened the front door. Meanwhile...
Barboza: "A bunch of kids just got off the bus and they were all on the street. All the kids were watching the officer shooting the dog. My heart was broken seeing an officer killing my dog."
The deputy then got in his vehicle and drove away leaving the dog bleeding profusely from his head almost dead.
Barboza: "I came back inside with my wife and hid. We were hugging each other crying about our dog because we were gonna miss him. He's been with us for five years."
That night Leo's father-in-law, who witnessed the whole thing, had a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized. When the family returned home from the hospital a few days later, they were shocked to see their dog alive.
Barboza: "My wife called me up and she's like, 'Hey, the dog's alive!' I was like, 'What are you serious?' I was happy my dog was alive."
The Teton County Idaho Sheriff wouldn't say much about this case except that it's still under investigation. He also said there's been numerous complaints about the Barboza's dog. But when I checked court records, I could only find one complaint filed last year and that was dismissed.
Nate Eaton, Channel 3 Eyewitness News: "Did your dog ever bite anybody?"
Barboza: "Not to my knowledge. No."
Eaton: "And this was the first time you'd ever heard of any complaint?"
Barboza: "Yes, this is the first time. I still think about it. You know my kid thinks all the cops are bad because an officer came and shot his dog. Honestly when I think about it I get mad too and I don't trust that officer any more."
The Barboza's took Bobby to the vet. He's now on medication to get the wounds taken care of. The holes in his head will be sewn up after Thanksgiving.
The family has hired attorney Josh Garner. I spoke with him this evening and he says, "If the facts are as they appear, the deputies behavior is disgusting, troublesome, and appalling. The officer needs to be held responsible."
Several sources say the officer is still on duty and still working in the county.
If you have a comment on this story, email us yourturn@kidk.com or natee@kidk.com.
Thanks for the updates.
Not just bad behavior but stupid behavior. If some cop shows up outside my house demanding to shoot my dog, I’m going to ask for papers or something. Besides, if an animal is ordered to be put down, would they not transport the animal to a facility to do that? And, I would never leave my pet tied to a tree after it was shot. A lot of things not adding up.
Most 5th graders are clearer and more accurate than most journalists.
The cop showed up at their door step on 3 occasions during the week with the warning that the dog would be destroyed if it continued to attack the mentally handicapped woman in the neighborhood. After 3 attacks and no effort to keep the dog under control, the deputy was dispatched to kill the dog. It wasn't an "out of the blue" surprise. The action took place after multiple warnings and pursuant to Idaho law for dealing with vicious dogs.
Sorry, but I made my statement as to what the article stated. Nothing in the article about showing up 3 times and such.
I’ll take your word for it. Be advised that my post was a reply to post 15. I never got as far as post 103. So be advised I responded to the article originally posted. Next time post the right link if you want better replies.
Next week's headline:
"Family Shocked, Outraged after Deputy Shoots Attorney in their Yard"
LOL!
>>Now why they would allow a cop to shot their dog, they are immigrants. I would have demanded a court order...<<
Yeah: You, and me, and any other native American who paid attention in their high school civics class.
But don’t immigrants also have to demonstrate an understanding of the Bill of Rights to be naturalized? Where, incidentally, does it say that they are immigrants?
Sounds like Leo and the cop were in collusion.
"You know my kid thinks all the cops are bad because an officer came and shot his dog."
I’d call that a damned shame. Children should respect and trust police officers. Unfortunately, they soon learn the hard way what a mistake that can be.
Children — and all Americans — need professional law enforcement we can trust. The current system of law enforcement by testosterone-fueled adolescents, donut-chomping Wiggums, and military wannabees is a failure. We need nationwide law enforcement reform from top to bottom.
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