Posted on 03/10/2016 11:18:52 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
Last week a West Virginia woman who stood between her dog and a state trooper intent on killing him was acquitted of obstructing an officer by a jury in Wood County. It took jurors just half an hour to acquit 23-year-old Tiffanie Hupp after they watched the video of the incident that Hupp's husband, Ryan, shot with his cellphone.
Trooper Seth Cook came to the Hupps' house on May 9, 2015, in response to a dispute between a neighbor and Ryan's stepfather. There Cook encountered Buddy, a Labrador-husky mix who was chained outside the house. The dog, whom Hupp describes as "a big baby," ran toward Cook, barking, and Cook backed up. Even though the dog had reached the end of his chain and Cook was not in any danger, he drew his pistol. "I immediately thought, 'I don't want him to get shot,'" Hupp, who was in the yard with her 3-year-old son, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. The video shows her stepping in front of Cook, at which point he grabs her, throws her to the ground, picks her up, leans her against his cruiser, and handcuffs her.
Cook "testified that he was not afraid of the dog, but was following training that required him to kill all dogs that approach him, even if it was chained and wagging its tail as Buddy was doing in this case."
Hupp [said] her case hinged on her husband's video, which they did not have for weeks after the incident because Cook confiscated the phone, which he was unable to access because it was protected by a password. "Without that video, it's just my word against a state trooper," she said. "Nobody is going to believe my word over law enforcement."
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
1. The Trooper says he was trained to shoot any dog that approaches him. Either the Trooper is overstating his training or that protocol needs to be evaluated.
2. Part of what saved this woman from conviction was a video on a phone the police confiscated but couldn't unlock. Aren't we lucky the phone didn't have a "back door" on it, like the Feds are demanding of Apple?
Both good points
Although, I am surprised the cops didnt just *lose* the phone.
Trooper Seth Cook needs to be charged with assault, theft of property, and wrongful imprisonment.
After he arrested her, he entered their house and confiscated all cell phones and tablets also. The fascist even said she was holding a crossbow when it happened. The video shows she was clearly not.
Also the dog he was about to shoot was on a chain.
I’m a huge Law Enforcement supporter, but it does seem they kill a lot of family dogs.
The ubiquitous cellphone camera -- a nightmare for JBTs.
Amen. “ Absolute power corrupts absolutely!”
The dog was chained? Wow, that dog was a threat!!! Kill it!!! /s
She was standing in his way of achieving a significant accomplishment. Once you have shot 5 dogs, you become an ace.
Which makes me think that killing any dog in their immediate vicinity regardless of how much of a threat the dog may present is indeed part of cop training.
No doubt the video would have been erased if the cops were able to gain access to it.
She still faces charges. The PD is probably holding that over her to prevent a lawsuit against the officers and the department. They will seek a settlement whereby the charges are dropped if she signs an agreement not to sue IMO.
What charges is she still facing if a jury acquitted her?
Which makes me think that killing any dog in their immediate vicinity regardless of how much of a threat the dog may present is indeed part of cop training.
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Agreed. This type of training is abject stupidity! Hmmm, I wonder how the cops would feel if they got shot at by a home owner for the same reason. “Gee, I didn’t know it was a police...I thought it was a burglar!”
Damn right!
The next step is to have the phone’s camera upload to the web in real time.
She still faces charges. The PD is probably holding that over her to prevent a lawsuit against the officers and the department. They will seek a settlement whereby the charges are dropped if she signs an agreement not to sue IMO.
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Like Trump, she shouldn’t settle.
“but it does seem they kill a lot of family dogs.”
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No they don’t——those are the rare incidents that get publicized.
There are rougly 700,000 LEOs in this country——do the math.
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A little late to the party aren’t you?
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