TheeBadOne
Member
A South Tucson family is mourning the loss of their two pit bulls after they were shot by an officer. But it's not the officer who's in trouble.
Prosecutors are considering filing criminal charges against the dogs' owners. "I locked that gate," says the owner, who didn't want to be identified. "I don't know how they got out."
When one bit a man, Sgt. Armando Teyechea was called to the scene.
"There was actually a witness who yelled at Sgt. Teyechea, look out," says Sgt. Dan Snyder of South Tucson Police. "As he turned around, he saw the dog was on a dead run for him. At that point he drew his weapon and fired."
The male named "Pirate" was killed.
"You have to make a split second decision. At that point, the officer felt he was in danger for his life."
The officer says, when "Lady" the female pit bull charged at him, he shot her, too.
"I don't understand -- his gun went off six times, why would he shoot 6 times?" says the owner. The owner says using a gun on an animal is excessive force. But South Tucson Police says the officer did not violate police policy. Police say six shots is what it took to stop both dogs. The sergeant says even after he shot the first pit bull twice, it still kept running. The third shot finally killed him. It's still unclear how many bullets hit the second dog.
"When you have a pit bull snapping his jaws, growling, it's an aggressive animal for whatever reason." says Sgt. Snyder.
But their owner finds that hard to believe: "They looked mean, but they were sissies. You stomped your feet and they would run from you."
Records show Animal Control was called out to the owners' home four times since 2001 for various complaints including dogs on the loose. The man bit by one of the pit bulls bit was not seriously hurt. It's now up to the county attorney to decide whether the owners will be charged with endangerment and harboring vicious animals.
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=1542655
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:banghead:
Prosecutors are considering filing criminal charges against the dogs' owners. "I locked that gate," says the owner, who didn't want to be identified. "I don't know how they got out."
When one bit a man, Sgt. Armando Teyechea was called to the scene.
"There was actually a witness who yelled at Sgt. Teyechea, look out," says Sgt. Dan Snyder of South Tucson Police. "As he turned around, he saw the dog was on a dead run for him. At that point he drew his weapon and fired."
The male named "Pirate" was killed.
"You have to make a split second decision. At that point, the officer felt he was in danger for his life."
The officer says, when "Lady" the female pit bull charged at him, he shot her, too.
"I don't understand -- his gun went off six times, why would he shoot 6 times?" says the owner. The owner says using a gun on an animal is excessive force. But South Tucson Police says the officer did not violate police policy. Police say six shots is what it took to stop both dogs. The sergeant says even after he shot the first pit bull twice, it still kept running. The third shot finally killed him. It's still unclear how many bullets hit the second dog.
"When you have a pit bull snapping his jaws, growling, it's an aggressive animal for whatever reason." says Sgt. Snyder.
But their owner finds that hard to believe: "They looked mean, but they were sissies. You stomped your feet and they would run from you."
Records show Animal Control was called out to the owners' home four times since 2001 for various complaints including dogs on the loose. The man bit by one of the pit bulls bit was not seriously hurt. It's now up to the county attorney to decide whether the owners will be charged with endangerment and harboring vicious animals.
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=1542655
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hmm....I think I know why... (Duh!)
:banghead:
