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Jury Acquits Woman Arrested for Protecting Her Dog From a Cop
Reason ^ | Mar. 8, 2016 12:42 pm | Jacob Sullum

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: barklist; cellphones; dogs; troopers
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
following training that required him to kill all dogs that approach him, even if it was chained and wagging its tail

this 'training' needs to cease and desist. Teaching people to be emotionless towards the bond people have with their pets is the first step in teaching people to have emotionless responses to humans. That this officer chose to confiscate all electronic devices and lie about the incident demonstrates he's learned his lesson so well that he has become a danger to other officers.

81 posted on 03/10/2016 12:59:43 PM PST by blueplum
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To: Mears

And a Ohio LEO had 20 kills as of a couple months ago. Protect and serve my ass. I’m still angry about the Oregon ambush.


82 posted on 03/10/2016 1:06:28 PM PST by mcshot (The "Greatest Generation" would never have allowed the trashing of our Republic.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

There is a company that offers this. Immediate transfer to the “cloud”


83 posted on 03/10/2016 1:07:56 PM PST by Renegade
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

Auto back up to the cloud all video.


84 posted on 03/10/2016 1:09:49 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (Cruz=VAT tax= No thanks.)
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To: Artcore

“I’m a huge Law Enforcement supporter, but it does seem they kill a lot of family dogs.”

You should say “you’re a huge supporter of decent LEO’s of which there are far too few!” This cop should be facing serious charges for abuse of authority. It’s time to put an end to this practice of shooting family pets who do not pose a threat. I can tell you this, if a LEO attempts to shoot my dog, he’s at risk of loosing his life in the process.


85 posted on 03/10/2016 1:10:41 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: Mears

““but it does seem they kill a lot of family dogs.”

No they don’t——those are the rare incidents that get publicized.”

ONE DEAD FAMILY PET THAT”S RESTRAINED is one too many if it happens to be yours. This is an artifact of the $hit that passes for law enforcement in many places today. I’d like to honor all of them for their service, but it’s clear that many of them are people with size 44 coveralls and size 4 hats whose “training” includes killing family pets because they can get away with it.


86 posted on 03/10/2016 1:15:34 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: centurion316

“Once you have shot 5 dogs, you become an ace.”

Do they get to put little dog’s head decals on the front fender of their patrol cars?


87 posted on 03/10/2016 1:16:35 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: vette6387

Of course


88 posted on 03/10/2016 1:17:34 PM PST by centurion316
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To: treetopsandroofs

“Guessing if we armed postal carriers as a rule and told them it’s ok to fire if they feel their lives are in danger, the numbers would be quite different.”

I think that there’s a law that prevents the government from giving firearms to people with IQ’s under 70! Some cops just barely clear that hurdle.


89 posted on 03/10/2016 1:21:50 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

“I propose that if a cop wrongly shoots a citizen’s dog, that citizen should be allowed to shoot the cop’s dog if he has one.”

No that would be wrong since it would be doing away with 80% of the combined intellect the cop and his dog share. Besides, police dogs are not equipped to shoot anyone.


90 posted on 03/10/2016 1:24:52 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: Myrddin

“Whoever came up with that stupid policy needs to be chained up in a dog suit and subjected to a visit by his/her trainees.”

No, just put on a chain, and then shot!


91 posted on 03/10/2016 1:25:40 PM PST by vette6387 (Obama can go to hell!)
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To: Mears

There are rougly 700,000 LEOs in this country——do the math.
****************
And 0 have been killed by dogs.


92 posted on 03/10/2016 1:29:02 PM PST by Neidermeyer (Bill Clinton is a 5 star general in the WAR ON WOMEN and Hillary is his Goebbels.)
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To: the_individual2014

See post #77

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3331345/posts?page=77#77


93 posted on 03/10/2016 1:52:04 PM PST by MeganC (The Republic of The United States of America: 7/4/1776 to 6/26/2015 R.I.P.)
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To: vette6387

“No that would be wrong since it would be doing away with 80% of the combined intellect the cop and his dog share. Besides, police dogs are not equipped to shoot anyone.”

I was talking about the cops personal dog, not his working dog. After consideration I am withdrawing my proposal. The cop’s dog did nothing wrong and should not be killed, however the cop needs to be pretty severely punished for killing someone’s pet needlessly.


94 posted on 03/10/2016 1:53:08 PM PST by Brooklyn Attitude (It's the apocalypse, lets have some fun!)
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To: Renegade; Honcho; clee1
There is a company that offers this. Immediate transfer to the “cloud”

I know there are companies that do that. I'm just waiting for the use to be more widespread.
95 posted on 03/10/2016 1:55:38 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: vette6387

I hate to say it and I am pretty OK with most cops but I would absolutely not let a cop shoot my dog. She’s a Chihuahua with a big mouth and a lot of attitude but not a biter.


96 posted on 03/10/2016 2:03:26 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Mears
No they don’t——those are the rare incidents that get publicized.

Channel] 2 Investigates: Nearly 100 dogs shot by metro police since 2010 [Atlanta] (Oct 2012)

97 posted on 03/10/2016 2:35:18 PM PST by Ken H
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To: Behind Liberal Lines
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.

Cops learned their lesson. From now on it will "get the guy with the camera first".

98 posted on 03/10/2016 2:50:46 PM PST by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
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To: Artcore

Seems that maybe Spot should be wrapped in explosives to handle this stupidity.


99 posted on 03/10/2016 3:14:50 PM PST by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: Mears
No they don’t——those are the rare incidents that get publicized.
There are rougly 700,000 LEOs in this country——do the math.

And how many dead family dogs don't make it to the internet??? Find that out and THEN do the math...

100 posted on 03/10/2016 3:41:11 PM PST by Iscool (Trump will Triumph)
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