As family shrieks, police kill dog (probably due to a lack of fresh donuts)

CNN ^

[spetznaz]

COOKEVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) -- Police video released Wednesday showed a North Carolina family kneeling and handcuffed, who shrieked as officers killed their dog -- which appeared to be playfully wagging its tail -- with a shotgun during a traffic stop.

The Smoak family was pulled over the evening of January 1 on Interstate 40 in eastern Tennessee by officers who mistakenly suspected them of a carjacking. An investigation showed James Smoak had simply left his wallet on the roof of his car at a gas station, and motorists who saw his money fly off the car as he drove away called police.

The family was driving through eastern Tennessee on their way home from a New Year's trip to Nashville. They told CNN they are in the process of retaining a lawyer and considering legal action against the Cookeville, Tennessee, Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for what happened to them and their dog.

In the video, released by the THP, officers are heard ordering the family, one by one, to get out of their car with their hands up. James Smoak and his wife, Pamela, and 17-year-old son Brandon are ordered onto their knees and handcuffed.

"What did I do?" James Smoak asks the officers.

"Sir, inside information is that you was involved in some type of robbery in Davidson County," the unidentified officer says.

Smoak and his wife protest incredulously, telling the officers that they are from South Carolina and that their mother and father-in-law are traveling in another car alongside them.

The Smoaks told CNN that as they knelt, handcuffed, they pleaded with officers to close the doors of their car so their two dogs would not escape, but the officers did not heed them.

Pamela Smoak is seen on the tape looking up at an officer, telling him slowly, "That dog is not mean. He won't hurt you."

Her husband says, "I got a dog in the car. I don't want him to jump out."

The tape then shows the Smoak's medium-size brown dog romping on the shoulder of the Interstate, its tail wagging. As the family yells, the dog, named Patton, first heads away from the road, then quickly circles back toward the family.

An officer in a blue uniform aims his shotgun at the dog and fires at its head, killing it immediately.

For several moments, all that is audible are shrieks as the family reacts to the shooting. James Smoak even stands up, but officers pull him back down.

"Y'all shot my dog! Y'all shot my dog!" James Smoak cries. "Oh my God! God Almighty!"

"You shot my dog!" screams his wife, distraught and still handcuffed. "Why'd you kill our dog?"

"Jesus, tell me, why did y'all shoot my dog?" James Smoak says.

The officers bring him to the patrol car, and the family calms down, but still they ask the officers for an explanation. One of them says Patton was "going after" the officer.

"No he wasn't, man," James Smoak says. "Y'all didn't have to kill the dog like that."

[budwiesest]

From a previous thread similiar to this they were ordered to toss the keys from the car before ever getting out- wherein they each had to walk backward with hands-on-heads toward the cruiser. From the git-go, this wasn't your everyday, normal stop.

Where in the driver's manual does it state that when one is asked to 'toss keys' from the car one should realize that they are engaged in a felony stop-in which the cops may blow anything away that appears 'dangerous' to them? At close range, the riot gun practically took this dog's head off.

Wonder if we'll ever see it on COPS. Probably not, could tarnish an already pristine image of those who job it is to serve and protect (all the while adorning full SWAT chlothing, military battle fatigues, etc).

My assumption from all that I see re:law enforcement/ their tactics is that we live in a much more dangerous world than previously imagined. Given their military approach to all things civilian, I'd suggest we prepare to do the same.

Long live the Second Ammendment. BLOAT

[baseballfanjm]

My dog is mostly black lab, and about 1/4 mixed. We only got her for $75 from a guy who's dog had a litter but she's worth more in my opinion than those pampered up $500 toy dogs.

[TaZ]

"My assumption from all that I see re:law enforcement/ their tactics is that we live in a much more dangerous world than previously imagined. Given their military approach to all things civilian, I'd suggest we prepare to do the same."

Yeah, when they come to our homes one by one, they'll be able to identify the dangerous types for summary execution...look Captain, this guy was a militia whacko, he had fatigues on!

Good job my lil' grunt, he might have shot at one of the State's officers!

[ambrose]

If some dumb ass Pig murdered my dog I wouldn't even think twice...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Totally insane.........

[ambrose]

When is the "police are always right" crowd going to show up?

[budwiesest]

Perhaps a subtle message, but they are sending it just the same (along with the media hype of every crime that takes place within your local jusrisdiction). The outfits, the attitudes and the take-downs all suggest we live in dangerous times and someone had better get a clue. (Myself, I think it's a classic case of projection where they appear to be readying themselves to better be able to face some nasty foe, when in truth, it is them.)

Suppose a robbery 'had' occurred at the store where this guy left his wallet on his car. The robbery could only have been carried out successfully had the victim been unable to defend himself (which is the case for the majority of people traveling these days).

Which brings us back to the Mighty 'Ole 2nd. Failure to heed our Founders most basic "right" is what led to this dog's death and the humiliation and horror experienced by this family.

Somebody elect me president and I'll make it illegal for anyone to be in public who isn't armed. Penalty- your own fate. You may remove your weapons at home, of course. Zero crime, it can happen in our time. All it takes is will.

[Thud]

The first question is whether the officers at the scene had cause to draw their weapons at all. Right now it appears they did not. This is my day job.

[TaZ]

"Somebody elect me president and I'll make it illegal for anyone to be in public who isn't armed. Penalty- your own fate. You may remove your weapons at home, of course. Zero crime, it can happen in our time. All it takes is will"

I'm afraid that the corrupt politicos from both parties would be more willing to confiscate ALL of our guns that let that happen...a mind-washed, disarmed sheeple is much easier to fleece.

[ambrose]

You watch the video and tell me a jury wouldn't award for emotional distress...

If it ever gets to a jury. That's the key issue. If the case gets past the initial pleading stage, then the police department will have no choice but to settle.

[mysterio]

I can't see the video. Is the link just overloaded?

[TaZ]

"The first question is whether the officers at the scene had cause to draw their weapons at all. Right now it appears they did not."

By decree of the police state, the state's goons always have their weapons drawn at felony stops...FYI.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I am pretty much pro law enforcement. But I must say, there sure seems to be a lot of loose cannons parading around as police and sheriffs nowadays. This story is a glaring example of this.

[Hank Rearden]

Piece of s#$t pigs! I hope they get their asses sued off PERSONALLY. None of this "the taxpayers will pay" crap!

Sue the pigs. Then handcuff the pigs and sic a dog on them.

[ambrose]

Most likely... I was able to get through.

[ambrose]

Piece of s#$t pigs! I hope they get their asses sued off PERSONALLY. None of this "the taxpayers will pay" crap! Sue the pigs. Then handcuff the pigs and sic a dog on them.

Bump!

[ambrose]

Ping.

[Beernoser]

City better settle because a jury is going to award them the city budget.

[budwiesest]

.a mind-washed, disarmed sheeple is much easier to fleece.

True, but that is today's reality. Tomorrow's could be quite different, (now just where did I put all those mind-expanding drugs.......)

[TaZ]

"If it ever gets to a jury. That's the key issue. If the case gets past the initial pleading stage, then the police department will have no choice but to settle"

Trust me, the lawyers in this case smell blood and will not let it be settled prior to trial, unless the judiciary is as corrupt as the LEOs in Tennesee, which might be the case.

Then again, the local counsel might try to get this removed to Circuit Court...in which case the family won't see a dime.