http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=1096991&nav=1ugBDXqZ
Audio Tape Analyzed in Controversial Dog Shooting
Reporter: Nancy Hauskins
An audio tape of the controversial dog shooting in Putnam County may pose more questions than answers. That tape has now been analyzed and cleaned up by an audio expert.
"Right before the gun shot is one voice that is apparent. It's almost like an exclamation of surprise on the part of the officer."
Doug Mitchell is an associate professor at MTSU. He's also an expert in audio forensics. He works with a number of law enforcement agencies to clean up and analyze audio tapes like the one from the recent dog shooting in Putnam County.
"The gun shot occurs at this particular spike. Really, it doesn't sound like much on the tape."
By using a digital audio work station and noise reduction software, Doug was able to remove much of the background noise.
"So now the gun impact is more noticeable. It stands out above everything else and you can actually physically see it as a wave form on the screen."
When the Smoak family from North Carolina was pulled over in what police believed was a felony traffic stop, the family dog, Patton, jumped out of the vehicle. In his incident report, Officer Eric Hall states that he shouted for Patton to get back, but the dog continued to circle towards him. Mitchell said the audio tape proves he yelled and shot at the same time.
"Obviously apparent is the 'Get... Bang,' and the 'T' is pretty much masked by the gun itself."
Mitchell said the video further supports his findings.
"The mouth is starting to move just as the shot takes place, and that's what we picked up here."
Officer Hall's report also claims the dog was "growling in an aggressive manner" - another possible discrepancy uncovered in Mitchell's research.
"(Do you hear any dog noises at all?) No, no. No growling, no barking. No, I didn't pick that up. If it was there, it was masked by other things."
Mitchell, who got involved at the request of the Tennessean, admitted it's not impossible that the dog barked and it wasn't picked up by the microphone. Neither Eric Hall nor his attorney were available today for comment.
News 2 at 6
01.23.03
Audio Tape Analyzed in Controversial Dog Shooting
Reporter: Nancy Hauskins
An audio tape of the controversial dog shooting in Putnam County may pose more questions than answers. That tape has now been analyzed and cleaned up by an audio expert.
"Right before the gun shot is one voice that is apparent. It's almost like an exclamation of surprise on the part of the officer."
Doug Mitchell is an associate professor at MTSU. He's also an expert in audio forensics. He works with a number of law enforcement agencies to clean up and analyze audio tapes like the one from the recent dog shooting in Putnam County.
"The gun shot occurs at this particular spike. Really, it doesn't sound like much on the tape."
By using a digital audio work station and noise reduction software, Doug was able to remove much of the background noise.
"So now the gun impact is more noticeable. It stands out above everything else and you can actually physically see it as a wave form on the screen."
When the Smoak family from North Carolina was pulled over in what police believed was a felony traffic stop, the family dog, Patton, jumped out of the vehicle. In his incident report, Officer Eric Hall states that he shouted for Patton to get back, but the dog continued to circle towards him. Mitchell said the audio tape proves he yelled and shot at the same time.
"Obviously apparent is the 'Get... Bang,' and the 'T' is pretty much masked by the gun itself."
Mitchell said the video further supports his findings.
"The mouth is starting to move just as the shot takes place, and that's what we picked up here."
Officer Hall's report also claims the dog was "growling in an aggressive manner" - another possible discrepancy uncovered in Mitchell's research.
"(Do you hear any dog noises at all?) No, no. No growling, no barking. No, I didn't pick that up. If it was there, it was masked by other things."
Mitchell, who got involved at the request of the Tennessean, admitted it's not impossible that the dog barked and it wasn't picked up by the microphone. Neither Eric Hall nor his attorney were available today for comment.
News 2 at 6
01.23.03
