Posted on 11/30/2008 3:54:13 AM PST by ShadowDancer
“I deeply regret the circumstances that led members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct a felony stop on the Smoak family and the subsequent shooting of their family pet by a member of the Cookeville Police Department,” wrote Col. Fagan. “My sympathy goes out to the Smoak family for the loss of their beloved pet, Patton. While we cannot change the course of events that occurred on January 1, 2003, we can take measures to ensure such an incident does not reoccur.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal jury has awarded $9,100 to a family whose dog was shot by a state trooper in Cookeville during a 2003 traffic stop. The jury in the civil suit said Wednesday that Highway Patrol Sgt. David Bush used excessive force when restraining driver James Smoak.
A patrol car video of the dog shooting was widely shown on television. The Smoak family of Saluda, N.C., had been wrongly identified as suspects in a robbery.
The family was ordered by officers to kneel on the highway shoulder when their dog, Patton, escaped from the vehicle through an open door that the family had repeatedly asked officers to close.
Cookeville police officer Eric Hall shot the 55-pound mixed breed pit bull, which could be seen wagging its tail in the video. Hall said he thought the dog was about to attack.
The Smoaks already settled with the city of Cookeville for $77,500 in a separate lawsuit
As much as you disgust me, I hope you never have to go through something like the Smoak family did.
Officers used a Taser on the other dog.He tried to bark, "don't tase me bro" in the pitbullian language.
they are consulting an attorney and animal rights activists
I can’t help but recall the trooper over here in Tennessee that shot a dog during a traffic stop. The dog was running toward the officer, but was wagging its tail and showing little sign of aggression.
But I suspect these bulls weren’t wagging their tails at the cops after attacking their owners.
:’)
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