Anti Federalist
12-30-2011, 12:28 AM
Woman seeks cash, apology for shot dog
By Ashley Meeks
Posted: 12/29/2011 09:50:45 PM MST
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19643521
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces woman is asking the city to pay $168 and give her an apology after a Las Cruces Police officer shot her dog during an investigation Monday.
Officer Patrick Rico had arrived at Chris Wilson's home on the 1000 block of Ninth Street while investigating a larceny Monday morning - officers needed to question Wilson's grandson, who is not charged in the crime - when Wilson's dog allegedly came out and tried to bite him, according to the police report.
When the officer tried to kick the dog, the dog "attached itself on (the officer's) leg," and Rico shot the dog once, the report states.
But Wilson says she had already restrained her 9-year-old Boxer, "Yogi," when the officer fired - just feet from her.
"The officer shot with me right there next to the dog," Wilson said Thursday. "My ears rang for 20 minutes to an hour afterward."
Wilson brought the shaking dog inside, where he splattered blood all over her carpet and walls. An emergency veterinarian visit, to stitch up Yogi's ear and leg, cost $168. Wilson was unharmed: "Besides having to take extra blood pressure and heart medicine that morning, yes."
She said officers have come to her neighborhood before, but they've never come through the gate like Rico, who she said was bitten on his shoe.
"They know, don't come in the yard," Wilson said. "They stand out by the gate. We have our yard posted, 'Beware of Dog,' and then the dog will bark and we will come out."
Wilson wants the police department to pay for the vet bill - and she wants the department to apologize.
"I think it was an unjustified shooting," she said. "And me standing right there, holding his chain and his collar and (the officer) was two feet away. I was right on the other side of the dog."
Las Cruces Police Department Public Information Officer Wallace Downs couldn't say if the city will oblige with Wilson's requests.
"Las Cruces Police officers are authorized to discharge their firearms to protect themselves and others, to include stopping a dangerous dog," said Downs, who said Rico was treated for minor injuries on scene. "It's still under investigation."
By Ashley Meeks
Posted: 12/29/2011 09:50:45 PM MST
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19643521
LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces woman is asking the city to pay $168 and give her an apology after a Las Cruces Police officer shot her dog during an investigation Monday.
Officer Patrick Rico had arrived at Chris Wilson's home on the 1000 block of Ninth Street while investigating a larceny Monday morning - officers needed to question Wilson's grandson, who is not charged in the crime - when Wilson's dog allegedly came out and tried to bite him, according to the police report.
When the officer tried to kick the dog, the dog "attached itself on (the officer's) leg," and Rico shot the dog once, the report states.
But Wilson says she had already restrained her 9-year-old Boxer, "Yogi," when the officer fired - just feet from her.
"The officer shot with me right there next to the dog," Wilson said Thursday. "My ears rang for 20 minutes to an hour afterward."
Wilson brought the shaking dog inside, where he splattered blood all over her carpet and walls. An emergency veterinarian visit, to stitch up Yogi's ear and leg, cost $168. Wilson was unharmed: "Besides having to take extra blood pressure and heart medicine that morning, yes."
She said officers have come to her neighborhood before, but they've never come through the gate like Rico, who she said was bitten on his shoe.
"They know, don't come in the yard," Wilson said. "They stand out by the gate. We have our yard posted, 'Beware of Dog,' and then the dog will bark and we will come out."
Wilson wants the police department to pay for the vet bill - and she wants the department to apologize.
"I think it was an unjustified shooting," she said. "And me standing right there, holding his chain and his collar and (the officer) was two feet away. I was right on the other side of the dog."
Las Cruces Police Department Public Information Officer Wallace Downs couldn't say if the city will oblige with Wilson's requests.
"Las Cruces Police officers are authorized to discharge their firearms to protect themselves and others, to include stopping a dangerous dog," said Downs, who said Rico was treated for minor injuries on scene. "It's still under investigation."