Anti Federalist
04-01-2014, 11:52 AM
Loyal family pet fatally shot during police pursuit
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-man-arrested-in-restaurant-robbery-5363423.php
By Manuella Libardi
Updated 11:02 am, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
A Beaumont family is mourning the shooting death of their beloved dog, Rex, killed early Monday by Beaumont police in hot pursuit of an armed robbery suspect, tracked with the aid of their own police dog whose presence in the hunt caused a territorial flare-up between the canines.
The family said they understood the reason police had to shoot, but the loss is hard for JoAnna Macaluso and her son, Jonathan.
Macaluso said Rex was "sweet as pie," but highly territorial.
"He didn't like other dogs in his territory," said the 52-year-old owner.
The deadly incident began at 6:30 a.m., when an armed man robbed the La Salsita restaurant, at 612 Washington Blvd.
Police tracked the suspect from the restaurant to the area around the Macaluso residence at the southeast corner of Sabine Pass Avenue and Fulton Avenue.
The suspect ultimately was found, hiding in a garage under a blanket in the 600 block of Lee Street, about midway between the Macaluso house and La Salsita.
But not before the only casualty of the day, sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Rex was about 12 years old and was a German shepherd and Labrador mix.
Macaluso said she used to carry him in her purse when she first got him as a rescue puppy and he had grown to be Macaluso's companion and protector.
As police fanned out around the neighborhood and in a police helicopter above it, an agitated Rex barked and growled as the Beaumont police's K-9 unit searched.
Rex broke free from his leash and confronted the officer and police dog.
The officer had no choice but to shoot Rex dead, police reported.
"I hate it and it makes me sick, but the officers were in a bad spot," said Carol Riley, Beaumont police officer and spokeswoman. "Our officers are all dog lovers, especially the K-9 guys, who would probably put their lives at risk for their dogs. But they were after an armed fugitive. I can't see that they had another choice."
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-man-arrested-in-restaurant-robbery-5363423.php
By Manuella Libardi
Updated 11:02 am, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
A Beaumont family is mourning the shooting death of their beloved dog, Rex, killed early Monday by Beaumont police in hot pursuit of an armed robbery suspect, tracked with the aid of their own police dog whose presence in the hunt caused a territorial flare-up between the canines.
The family said they understood the reason police had to shoot, but the loss is hard for JoAnna Macaluso and her son, Jonathan.
Macaluso said Rex was "sweet as pie," but highly territorial.
"He didn't like other dogs in his territory," said the 52-year-old owner.
The deadly incident began at 6:30 a.m., when an armed man robbed the La Salsita restaurant, at 612 Washington Blvd.
Police tracked the suspect from the restaurant to the area around the Macaluso residence at the southeast corner of Sabine Pass Avenue and Fulton Avenue.
The suspect ultimately was found, hiding in a garage under a blanket in the 600 block of Lee Street, about midway between the Macaluso house and La Salsita.
But not before the only casualty of the day, sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Rex was about 12 years old and was a German shepherd and Labrador mix.
Macaluso said she used to carry him in her purse when she first got him as a rescue puppy and he had grown to be Macaluso's companion and protector.
As police fanned out around the neighborhood and in a police helicopter above it, an agitated Rex barked and growled as the Beaumont police's K-9 unit searched.
Rex broke free from his leash and confronted the officer and police dog.
The officer had no choice but to shoot Rex dead, police reported.
"I hate it and it makes me sick, but the officers were in a bad spot," said Carol Riley, Beaumont police officer and spokeswoman. "Our officers are all dog lovers, especially the K-9 guys, who would probably put their lives at risk for their dogs. But they were after an armed fugitive. I can't see that they had another choice."