Posted on 06/18/2015 5:30:39 PM PDT by Altariel
A Cleveland family has been left devastated after an officer shot and killed their beloved one-year-old golden retriever as he was on a leash in the family’s backyard.
Cleveland police told the family the officer felt threatened by the dog after the dog barked, even though the officer was aware it was leashed.
The incident took place Friday when dog owner Tyler Muzzi saw a stranger walking around his neighbor’s home. Muzzi contacted his neighbor and then called police to check on the situation.
Minutes later, police arrived and arrested the man who had by that time broken into the house. The situation seemed under control and without incident until Muzzi heard gunshots.
“At first, I thought I had heard only two shots, but there were actually three that had been fired,” Muzzi told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “I thought they had shot the man in custody or something.”
Muzzi opened his front door to see what was going on, which was when an officer told him that his dog had been shot and that he needed to go check on it.
He found his pet, Miller, with his spine severed in two places after being shot three times, despite having put him on a leash prior to the officers arriving.
Officers stood around silently as Muzzi wrapped his daughter’s beloved pet in a towel and called a vet, but eventually called animal control to help get Miller to the emergency clinic. Miller died shortly after.
The officers involved have apologized to Muzzi, and initially claimed that they did not see the leash.
The story has since changed however and Police Chief Charles Bingham told the man that the officers did see the leash, but were within their rights to shoot him as they “felt threatened.”
A Home / Bad Cop, No Donut / Feeling “Threatened,” Cleveland Police Officer Shoots and Kills Family Dog While it was Leashed in Backyard Miller, a golden retriever seen here with 5-year-old Emma, was shot and killed by a Cleveland cop while leashed in the back yard because the cop "felt threatened." Miller, a golden retriever seen here with 5-year-old Emma, was shot and killed by a Cleveland cop while leashed in the back yard because the cop "felt threatened." Feeling “Threatened,” Cleveland Police Officer Shoots and Kills Family Dog While it was Leashed in Backyard
Posted by: Cassandra Fairbanks in Bad Cop, No Donut, Cop kills dog, PINAC News, PINAC News Top 3, Police Abuse, The Blue Line June 17, 2015 87 Comments 4,956 Views 1.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter
A Cleveland family has been left devastated after an officer shot and killed their beloved one-year-old golden retriever as he was on a leash in the family’s backyard.
Cleveland police told the family the officer felt threatened by the dog after the dog barked, even though the officer was aware it was leashed.
The incident took place Friday when dog owner Tyler Muzzi saw a stranger walking around his neighbor’s home. Muzzi contacted his neighbor and then called police to check on the situation.
Minutes later, police arrived and arrested the man who had by that time broken into the house. The situation seemed under control and without incident until Muzzi heard gunshots.
“At first, I thought I had heard only two shots, but there were actually three that had been fired,” Muzzi told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “I thought they had shot the man in custody or something.”
Muzzi opened his front door to see what was going on, which was when an officer told him that his dog had been shot and that he needed to go check on it.
He found his pet, Miller, with his spine severed in two places after being shot three times, despite having put him on a leash prior to the officers arriving.
Officers stood around silently as Muzzi wrapped his daughter’s beloved pet in a towel and called a vet, but eventually called animal control to help get Miller to the emergency clinic. Miller died shortly after.
The officers involved have apologized to Muzzi, and initially claimed that they did not see the leash.
The story has since changed however and Police Chief Charles Bingham told the man that the officers did see the leash, but were within their rights to shoot him as they “felt threatened.”
A video recording of the incident, which has not been released to the public, but was shown to Muzzi, reportedly did not capture the shooting. You can only hear the dog barking and four seconds later, shots fired.
The department has offered to pay the veterinarian bills and buy a new dog for the family, which Muzzi told the Clarion-Ledger felt like “a slap in the face.”
Muzzi’s five-year-old daughter Emma has reportedly been sleeping with a clay statue of a dog resembling Miller, and bringing it food and water.
“My wife and I have been really upset about it. Just heartbroken. But Emma’s been really strong.” Muzzi stated.
The cop who killed Miller is currently on administrative leave.
According to an unofficial count done by an independent research group, Ozymandias Media, law enforcement in the United States shoots a dog every 98 minutes. Postal workers who encounter dogs all day long, don’t seem to have any issues.
**** “Since we know this article is absolutely truthful and precise in the facts, should this cop be executed without a trial?” ****
Dog was unavailable for comment
For the most part, I agree with you. Think carefully before you call 911, FRiends.
I know it isn’t right, I know it isn’t equivalent, but if I cop did this to my dog I would kill him. Not right then, because I wouldn’t have a gun in my hand, but one day down the road that cop would turn up dead. I’d probably get caught and go to jail but these dog shootings are acts of sadism commited under color of authority. Police know there’s nothing a homeowner can legally do, and they also know this is emotionally devestating to the families. I simply would not be able to stand someone lording their station over me like that.
That’s just me.
Agreed.
***** “Don”t call the cops. Ever.” *****
Well if you need chalk outlines, I don’t know of a private company that will do that.
Tell me, if you witnessed a coworker murdering his wife before your eyes, would your response in any way involve hugging him?
There is no justification; this isn’t a fear response, it’s the actions of an individual who knows that he can do essentially *anything* and not face the same consequences that a non-police officer would face.
In “red state” Mississippi.
“And, Officer, since I couldn’t be sure who he might shoot next, I had to protect my family, ......”
Cops have learned they can get away with it, so they simply shoot the dog to shut it up.
Sometimes the cops just like to kill.
That is pretty much an excusable shooting. The officer, if he shoots a dog when it is not posing as a threat, is showing himself to be a threat.
If I understand US criminal law, it is permissible to shoot a cop under those conditions as you would with anybody.
Hell I can make a chalk outline. I can’t resurrect a shot dog, though.
>>You cop haters are over the top.
The cops started it and then escalated it over the course of the 50 year, failed “War on Drugs”. Any cop who is afraid of a golden retriever is a pathetic coward who is a disgrace to his badge. He’s probably such a punk that he gets off on hurting people and animals when he gets a chance.
“....the officers did see the leash, but were within their rights to shoot him as they “felt threatened.””Scumbags! Ever looked the definition of a “Scumbag...”
Yeah. Its your first sentence.
Try taking that to court...The only "back-up" you'd get would be when you're serving your 25-life.
Sue the cop, sue the department...But I can't see killing another human over a dog.
*If* I ever had to call cops for some unlikely reason, I would put my dogs in my truck, drive them up the ridge a good ways, lock it and leave it running with the AC on, if it’s hot and then let them come here.
An law school professor and former criminal defense attorney tells you why you should never agree to be interviewed by the police.
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