There is a highly disturbing controversy in Texas where a couple sys that the Cleburne, Texas police effectively executed their pit bull, Maximus. They say that the videotape shown below confirms the lack of necessity to use lethal force.

We had discussed a long line of controversies where officers had killed family dogs. These cases often involve complaints that officers use lethal force too readily in encountering dogs in backyards or homes. In this case, however, Maximus was found outside of the home, but his owners insist that he was never given a chance.

Maximus belonged to Quinton Tatum and his wife, Amanda Henderson. They say that they were not at home when the dogs escaped.

A neighbor had called 911 about a group of pit bulls running around her car, trapping her. The officer arrived on the scene and found three pit bulls. One pit bull named DoBoy put his paws on the officer’s chest. He found the other two later in a ditch, including Maximus. The video shows the officer making kissing noises to calm the dog. The officer says in the report that “I raised my duty weapon to the ready position – pointed at the growling dog’s head. As soon as I lifted my pistol, the dog began coming up the hill, continuing to growl and display its teeth . . . I fired three shots at it.”

The family says that the video contradicts the report. The other dog ran off and was later retrieved by an Animal Control officer. Notably, he did so without a leash, let alone lethal force.

The police department issued a story stating that

“As is often the case, the short video does not tell the whole story. The officer was responding to a 911 call for assistance. Three dogs had pinned some residents in a vehicle. One dog was secured without incident before the shooting. The officer was attempting to secure the other dogs until animal control arrived when one dog became aggressive.

The aggressive behavior of the dogs toward the neighbor certainly justifies caution by the officer. However, this short video raises serious questions of the necessity of the use of the weapon.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call police at 817-556-8894.

Source: Daily Mail

Kudos: Paul Schulte