GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Jessica Howard got home from work around 6:15 Wednesday morning to shocking news.
Her son and boyfriend had been arrested and the family dog had been shot and killed by Grand Rapids Police.
“I found a huge puddle of blood on my driveway and my dog dead on my back porch,” she says.
Howard says she’d owned the pitbull - named Chewey – since it was just eight weeks old.
“He was a baby,” she says. ”He sleeps in bed with me every night. He was a wonderful dog. He was a protector. He loved his family.”
GRPD says they fired 13 shots at the dog because it was ordered to attack them by Howard’s boyfriend, James Lawrence. Howard’s family says 11 of those shots hit Chewey, but that Lawrence never gave an order like that.
Police had followed one of two teenagers living at 106 Rose Street SW home after the two had been throwing snowballs at cars. Police say they had caused property damage.
Howard says Lawrence had told an officer to wait in the home’s driveway while he went inside to get the teenager that had come home. The officer instead followed Lawrence inside and an altercation occurred. Chewey – they say – was frightened by what was happening and broke out of his cage.
He eventually wandered out into the driveway between Lawrence and police, where officers opened fired.
“If the officer would have just stayed out of my home like he was asked to,” she says. ”the situation could have been handled the way it should have been.”
“His home was invaded and he was protecting his family. And he had to get shot for that. It’s not fair.”
Howard says she’s pursuing an investigation into the dog’s death.
James Lawrence, 32, will be in court Thursday on charges of obstructing police and felony assault.
Chewey’s body is being kept on the family’s back porch. Howard says they plan to bury the dog in their back yard.
Grand Rapids Police declined to be interviewed for this story.
79 Comments to “Owner Of Pitbull That Police Shot And Killed Wants Answers”
February 27, 2013 at 7:09 PM
Um, this is ridiculous – can we get these people out of Grand Rapids, if they can't understand what the purpose of the police department is? Thanks, GRPD, for keeping us safe
February 27, 2013 at 7:17 PM
wow whats wrong with you, would you like it if someone killed your pets!
February 27, 2013 at 7:23 PM
what alternate universe do you live in??? the police weren't keeping ANYONE safe and shot a dog because they think they could. the POLICE broke the law and entered the home WITHOUT a cause OR a warrant! they should be suspended WITHOUT pay.
February 27, 2013 at 7:30 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with this. They should be suspended. I stand totally behind this poor woman and hope she gets proper justice for her terrible loss. It's like losing a child to some of us.
February 27, 2013 at 7:36 PM
I so agree with that. I would be so heart broken if my babies got shot for no reason!!!!
March 4, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Thanks Rikki That Was Dog That Got Killed I Really Appreicate What You Said About My Mother Some People Are Really Rude like TIMOZINGA Is So Rude I Wish She Was In Our Shoes To See What Were Going Thru
February 27, 2013 at 7:46 PM
nvmbrsnow1 <<<<<total biggot drive by my house so i can throw stuff at your car as u driveby then be a man and not call the police after i whip you for "not letting me destroy what you worked hard to earn and paid for" REMEMBER YOU PAY THE INSURANCE NOT THE JUVENILE WHO DAMAGED IT
February 27, 2013 at 7:50 PM
Said like a true cop…Idiot
February 27, 2013 at 8:32 PM
Really did u see these people interviewed on the news? And u believe them?
February 27, 2013 at 8:34 PM
Keeping you safe? You're an idiot. I suppose you think Hitler kept the German's safe and Stalin kept the Russian's safe.
When you wipe your rear end, do little pieces of what's left of your brain show up on the toilet paper?
Idiot.
February 27, 2013 at 8:57 PM
russia nor germany were attacked until U.S.A. got involved dummy they conquered and controled more during their reign of dictatorship in war and yet the best scientist still come from those 2 countries so yeah good analogy tard
February 27, 2013 at 9:22 PM
You're an idiot, YOU MOVE OUT OF GRAND RAPIDS. This is home invasion by a police officer which is STILL ILLEGAL. Cops DO NOT have the right to go into someone's home unless with a search warrant granted by a judge.
February 28, 2013 at 6:58 PM
wow i think you're an idiot for taking this behavior as a joke (:
March 1, 2013 at 1:55 PM
If you had any sense you would be questioning the intelligence of the police officers on your force. I would not be feeling safe at all with trigger happy cops running around believing they have the right to enter my home and shoot a dog acting like a dog,. They were responding to snowball throwers not a rape or murder. For god sake, get a grip on the real issue here.
March 5, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Since when can police enter someone's home without a warrant? No place I'm aware of! And yet again, WHY kill…what happened to tazing? Eleven shots?! Really?! It's painfully obvious the cops need to be screened better BEFORE hiring and trained better after!
March 5, 2013 at 12:11 PM
NOT!
February 27, 2013 at 7:14 PM
No what's sad is that they shot just because they saw a Pit.. Any other dog and they would have done nothing about it. I have a Mastiff that has become the most aggressive dog I have ever seen and I have n idea why but if they saw him they would do nothing because he is not a Pit. Pit Bulls are loving animals and it is sad that it has come to this. They are VERY loyal and that is one of the greatest qualities about them. It is sad they have such a bad rep..
March 5, 2013 at 1:55 AM
Wonderfully said Jen. I know a few aggressive dogs(who are only aggressive towards other dogs) and they're not Pit-bulls. Chihuahuas are far more aggressive than most other breeds. I know several Pits who are the most loyal, loving, lapdogs I've ever come across.
February 27, 2013 at 7:15 PM
The officers had no business going into the house after being asked to wait outside. The dog would still be alive if they had done their job properly instead of thinking that just because they are cops they are above the law. It's cops like this that give all other police officers a bad name.
March 1, 2013 at 11:45 PM
u r so right
February 27, 2013 at 7:21 PM
wow this version is a whole lot different then other reports I have read..now which one is the truth..
February 27, 2013 at 8:46 PM
THIS ONE IS THE TRUTH
February 27, 2013 at 7:25 PM
They should not have entered without permission. We are talking about snowball throwing not armed robbery people. They also need to be educated about dogs so they don't panic every time they see a pitt bull or other large breed. dog.
February 27, 2013 at 7:26 PM
Just another example of the media trying to piece a story together and leaving out valuable information
February 27, 2013 at 7:33 PM
the cops are at the wrong in this storey thats messed up they wonder why people dont like cops cause they use there badge to do any an every thang cause they dont do no wrong id have every thang they owend an have them fired thats animal curlty
February 27, 2013 at 7:38 PM
This is a sad and horrible story. However, the amount of typos in it makes me question the accuracy of the report….Either way a pet is dead and my thoughts are with the family.
February 27, 2013 at 7:38 PM
police pursued one teenager to his home(after teen was committing crime) so the teen ran into his home(failing to follow lawful order to stop hoping "daddy will save me") police rightfully secured the scene based on investigating criminal act(destruction of private parties vehicle as they drove innocently down the road) you lame sick turds woulda cried where's the police if 1 driver swerved and killed someone…….as the police intended to finish their "safe" investigation their dog broke out of a secure area(his cage) and attempted to harm the same officer who responded to YOUR FRICKING CALLS OF KIDS THROWING SNOWBALLS AT PASSING CARS were put in danger for a pet owner refusing to CONTROL HIS PET. maybe overboard with 11 or 13 shots yet whos arguing about the parenting of these kids throwing stuff at moving cars(2-4 ton killing machines?
February 27, 2013 at 7:47 PM
Wow…quite the drama queen.
The kids shouldn't have been throwing snowballs at cars….but kids have been doing that for as long as I remember. The guy went in to get the kid and told the cop to wait in the driveway…he should NOT have followed him in…they weren't armed fellons.
The situation should have never escalated to what it did. No reason for the cop to go in the house at that point….IF the story is factually correct.
February 27, 2013 at 8:13 PM
HOW DO YOU KNOW(ARMED FELONS) so keeping that in mind the same should go for domestic violence same punishment(both are misdemeanors) most criminals who keep running have something to hide……gun/drugs or on parole
February 27, 2013 at 8:38 PM
You're almost as stupid as Timotard earlier. So, is your belief, if you don't have something to hide you should submit yourself to a search? It's crack-heads like you who have helped turn the US from one of the most liberty-loving countries into the police-state it has become. Perhaps reading the constitution should be something you try in your spare time between raising your Hitler-youth children and picking up your unemployment check.
February 27, 2013 at 9:09 PM
thank goodness you dont serve protect me otherwise it would be an anarchy state……..hide behind your hitler youth status my kids dont break the law tard……..and they cooperate with honesty………..if thats "my Hitler youth" THANK YOU! your hard earned paycheck like mine is protected by ignorant by your standards"let them do whatever-they-want kids that you raised
February 28, 2013 at 10:04 AM
lol…they ran away after chucking snowballs. It's stupid…but that's what kids do.
If you judge this kids after doing something stupid like this like they are criminals running from the law, well…you are really out of touch with reality. Did you ever get out when you were younger?
I was a good kid…and I did plenty of stupid things when I was younger…that's what kids do.
February 27, 2013 at 8:40 PM
the dog broke out of his cage because his owner was being attacked by the cops for no reason so yea i would think the dog did the right thing.the cops are on a power trip and think they could do what they want. i wish the dog would of got some of the cops for beating up the owner for no reason.
March 5, 2013 at 8:39 AM
Come on , snowballs , kids , SECURED THE SCENE , NO BUSINESS ENTERING THAT HOME , THAT'S IT BOTTOM LINE
March 5, 2013 at 10:34 AM
@ Reality, you can't educate STUPID! Your remarks are almost as ignorant as your post.
February 27, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Wow quite the outstanding marksmanship, 11 shots one dog! Sorry this all came down to this, what an abuse of power.
February 27, 2013 at 7:50 PM
Cops disgust me.
February 27, 2013 at 8:00 PM
You'll keep blaming the police.. there are alot of holes in this story. The dog busted out of it's cage? Really? You're dumber then you've been given credit for. If it broke out that easily who would it have gone after instead? A girl scout selling cookies door to door? The kids knew thy were busted.if thy had a gun thy might have went that rout,but unsted choose the next available potential leather weapon. Why it took 11 shots is beyond me. Maybe thy need to spend some time at the range.
February 27, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Just so u know the dog busted out of the cage because his owner was being attacked by the cops.so yea the police are to blame and there is only holes in the police side of the story as there always is.cops think they can do what ever they want to and get away with it.I am good friends with the victims in this story and every thing they are saying is the truth. so before you start trying to down someone you should find out the truth of the story. and u should try using spell check it might help you.
February 27, 2013 at 8:11 PM
No officer should go into the home, when they were told for waiting outside.
They were after a teen throwing snowballs? Give me a break. This is no reason for them to enter a home when they were told to wait outside. Rediculous.
February 27, 2013 at 8:18 PM
Hmmm, kids out throwning snowballs, break someone's car window. Same two kids-who have now become suspects are stupid enough to run away home leaving their footprints in the snow. Dog is let out of the house and is out of control. Now, if I was in the position of a pitbull coming at me, what would I do???
The answer to the question is simple. Someone damaged property, unfortunately, once again responsbility is not taken by those who did the the snowball throwing and a dog was put down. A dog, not a person. What would have happened if the same vehicle struck by the snowballs would have lost control, hit someone walking out on the street, driven into someone's house and injured someone or driven themselves into a power pole killing themselves. Take responsbility for your kids, the dog is a result of a couple of people out throwing ice at cars when they should have been indoors with their parents and or parent…..
February 27, 2013 at 8:48 PM
"The officer instead followed Lawrence inside and an altercation occurred. Chewey – they say – was frightened by what was happening and broke out of his cage."
Dog was not let out of the house per FOX 17 News reports. The Police entered the home where the dog was. It does not take 11 shots to take a dog down.
The boyfriend went inside to get one of the teens (therefore making the teen "responsible") and the Police followed inside the home when asked NOT TO. If the Police had not entered the home they could have question the teen and the family pet could still be alive.
February 28, 2013 at 9:53 PM
If the teens would have been indoors maybe doing something productive, none of this would have happened. Don't blame police for parent's not policing their own children.
I think there is a song…"who let the dog out."
March 5, 2013 at 2:14 AM
The issue here is not about the family taking responsibility, they were trying to when the officer entered their home uninvited. Don't police officers carry pepper spray? Pepper spray is one of the most effective ways to deter a charging dog. Where'd they receive their canine training?
February 27, 2013 at 8:37 PM
More ABUSE OF POWER ! If the overzealous police office had remained OUTSIDE and not came into the home .. which he had NO right to do … the dog would not have broke out of its cage and attacked him … This kind of police officer is growing in America , where you give some dumb a** a gun and a shield
'n the person thinks they can write and make up their own laws and dispense their own brand of justice however they wish …
I sure hope that this low down, good for nothing , POS cop is FIRED !!
February 27, 2013 at 9:06 PM
Come into my home unwelcome and my dogs would react the same darn way. One is a Boston Terrier and the other is a Boxer American Bull mixed. They don't like any one they don't know in my home, (And some people they do know and don't trust) and they sure don't want anyone near momma, not even my hubby. (Kids are a new story, they would rather play with them and forget about mom.) Most dogs are going to protect their property and their owners. It's in all of them when they feel danger lurking. And a stranger in their home is danger. No matter who it is.
February 27, 2013 at 9:08 PM
I found the post funny, that said, "Just another example of the media trying to piece a story together and leaving out valuable information".
This article gave great detail of what I wanted to know. Names and addresses. Love the grcourt.org and Michigan OTIS websites!
February 27, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Holy misplaced modifier batman…can you read the headline again and tell me how an owner, who was shot and killed, would be able to be upset.
February 27, 2013 at 9:22 PM
TO BE HONEST GRP TAKES IT TO FAR & SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE!!!!! THEY ARE VERY HARSH I HAVE NOTICED THAT & NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE A DAY IN MY LIFE & I'M 33 YEARS OLD TILL I CAME THERE AND THEY TREATED ME AND MY DAUGHTER LIKE SHIT PULLED ME OVER WHILE ME AND MY 14 YR OLD WAS COMING FROM THE GROCERY STORE SAID I WAS MAKING A DRUG RUN AND LEFT MY CHILD OUTSIDE ON FRANKLIN & WORDEN BY MISS TRACY'S ALL I HAD IN MY POCKET WAS SOME PAPER FROM A POWDER DOUGHNUT AND THEY MISTREATED ME AND HER SO BAD MAKE IT SOOO BAD WE WAS'NT FROM AROUND THERE HAD JUST MOVED THERE THEN TOLD HER SHE WAS LYING BOUT HER AGE & WHO I WAS.. THEY ARE VERY SAD THERE WHEN IT'S WAY MORE BIGGER PROBLEMS GOING ON BUT THEY MISTREAT PEOPLE A LOT!!!!!
February 27, 2013 at 9:31 PM
The owner wants answers? The dog was attacking police officers..they felt threatened, that's the answer.
February 27, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Why did this story just go from the dog attacked the police officer and then the owner to the police officer ILLEGALLY entered the house AFTER he was told to wait outside and when the dog came outside IN BETWEEN the officer and the Boyfriend was it then shot? Someone isn't telling the whole truth…so very sad
February 27, 2013 at 11:08 PM
The dog got shot because it was a threat! Someone was causing an issue for the police to be there in ther first place! Take responsibility for your actions you low life trash! Don't hide behind a dog. The officer did not enter the house illegally you IDIOTS!, they were investigating a crime! Low life hood rats are not immune from the law. The breed of the dog has nothing to do with being a threat, it was a threat so it died as it should have, end of story.
March 4, 2013 at 10:19 AM
fuck you if i see you in my hood since im a hood rat im smack yo UGLY ASS cause that was my dog and i aint no fucking hood rat
February 27, 2013 at 11:20 PM
ANY dog who felt threatened IN HIS HOME who sees his owners in trouble would have responded the same way. Regardless of the breed. Pit bulls are very loving and loyal dogs when raised well and with lots of love and socializing. No police officers were hurt or injured or bitten in the slightest…so why on earth were 11 shots needed? I feel bad for the family because they lost a pet out of a very sad situation. The dog was not outside bothering anyone, it was inside its home and was probably very scared. We have a pit bull and a small dog and they both are wonderful dogs, however I can't say how they would act with a stranger coming into the house in a highly tense situation such as what happened. Dogs are loyal, and they are going to look or sound aggressive when they feel their is danger around or are scared. Because of it's breed and the situation, the officer in question felt the 11 shots were necessary. If this were a lab, or a german shepherd, or doberman, I wonder if the number of shots would have been less?
February 27, 2013 at 11:50 PM
not only that, but when was the last time a firefighter KILLED a dog of ANY breed during which commotion was occurring and the dog may have been afraid and acting out?? how many times do COPS do so, without trying to de-escalate or taking a step back to see if there are other people who may be able to handle the dog?? if COPS are so AFRAID of the big bad doggy then i demand they all turn in their shields and their weapons and seek another line of work because being afraid of a dog, even if it is upset, is unacceptable. period.
February 27, 2013 at 11:23 PM
i really hope the cops involved in this get their ass reamed…overzealous, amped up, over aggressive, and poor shots at that! i swear by anything and everything ever deemed holy that if i EVER come across someone even THINKING of harming MY babies ( a jack russell and a shih tzu) that i WILL put the end to whatever they may have considered starting. in whatever way i can. my dogs will get very excited (some would say "agitated" to justify THEIR actions) when anyone comes on THEIR property or comes near their mama (me). i would dare to bet these same cops are racist too because it's the same thing. i spit your face you lousy excuses for "officers"!!!
February 27, 2013 at 11:49 PM
I am absolutely disgusted by the pure ignorance of both the police officers who shot & killed this family's pet and those who wrote such negative comments. Those officers had no right to barge into that home the way they did and ofcourse it frightened the dog who is going to protect it's family against intruders. An officer being attacked was never reported, instead the dog wandered outdoors and was shot 13 times! 13 shots~EXCESSIVE & SICK!!! Any breed of dog is capable of such fear and protection of it's loved ones, had it been a golden retriever or a lab shots would have never been fired nor would teens throwing snowballs ever make the news. It is so sad that pitbulls have such a negative reputation. By nature, the breed is not human aggressive but they are very loyal so ofcourse it is not going to sit and coward in the corner of his crate as there is an intrusion occuring. My thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time as they have lost a loved one and I pray this matter is not taken lightly by the Police Department. I am a proud pitbull owner and advocate and thank those who wrote positive comments to this horrific story.
February 27, 2013 at 11:59 PM
Sorry but you don't tell a police officer what to do. I think that if I said" hey officer, do not give me that speeding ticket just turn around and walk away" he would still give me a ticket…and then some. The officers are doing their jobs, a high stress, low paying job. A school janitor makes more than them. We have no clue how the whole story played out maybe the dog wasn't sicked on the police. maybe it was. The one thing that I can say for a fact is that if I was a cop, and someone told me to wait outside of their house.. I would be 1. perturbed, and 2. on edge and wondering if this guy is going to fight or flee. I would want to go home to my family at night, which would make me take the necessary steps to make sure of that .
February 28, 2013 at 12:22 AM
The issue is not of the officers salary or returning home. At least for myself, the issue is the over aggressive behavior with the 11 shots being fired mostly likely because of the dogs breed and all the bad stereotypes ppl have about this breed…I believe that if in the same situation this dog had even been a German shepherd (which police use as their police dogs because they are smart, loyal, and strong and intimidating) the reaction to the situation would not have been the same and there definitely wouldn’t have been 11 shots fired at a poor dog just acting in defense of its owner and property in its home. The police could have handled this differently perhaps even by ending the poor pets life more humanely with a single shot instead of shooting this dog so many times all over. You would think that someone was truly getting mauled or injured with a need for 11 shots and none of these police were even injured. It is rediculous and sad. My pitbull is a teddy bear and loves to be around family, neighbors, friends, and other dogs, however if he were scared or felt I was threatened I am sure he would be anxious and probably show intimidating behavior. That is in ANY dogs nature. I hope someone wouldn’t over react to the situation and shoot him like that just because they see he is a pit.
March 5, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Since when are cops aloud to enter a home without a warrent…that is in the constitution maybe you should read it. The cop had no right to enter that home, that is a cause for him to be reprimanded. The kid threw snowballs, not granades, The cop attacked the womens boyfriend, dog broke out of cage. I would sue their asses for such a high amount of monies that cops will think twice before they shot at a dog again. By the way, it is your right as a US citizen to deny access to your home, vehicle, purse and property without proper paper work and without reprecusions. this cop was wrong and needs to be investigated, fired and sued.
February 28, 2013 at 12:10 AM
Yep everyone is right… those damn cops…. I saw one of those horrible cops the other day. A woman had blown a tire on the expressway and as everyone passed by without a second look, A state trooper was on his knees in the slush CHANGING HER TIRE FOR HER!!!!! so she could stay warm in the car. Time to grow up and quit complaining about everything!!!!! and God protect our police officers!!!
February 28, 2013 at 12:27 AM
No one is saying that all cops are bad…clearly that is the same attitude and stereotypical behavior as saying that ALL pitbulls are bad. You are advocating that all cops are not bad…and that is what others are trying to say about this poor pitbull. He was not a bad dog. He was in his home and there was a scary situation going on. So should this dog have been persecuted for what ppl say about his entire breed? Should one cops behavior mean the entire department is like him? No. The point goes both ways
February 28, 2013 at 6:21 AM
Nicole,
Nope,the officers should have just stood there while the dog chewed off their legs.
Seriously, you are hearing about 10% of what really went on hear from overzealous media and a group of losers who broke the law. Hmmm, the owner was not home with her dog. What story is she really given by the people who let the dog out of the house?
Let the cops do their jobs, it goes a whole lot easier when you do what the officer tells you if you have just broken the law. The original charge was MDOP and the perp ran away……..
February 28, 2013 at 6:13 AM
The real store is what about the teens that where throwing the snowball and broke a windshield?
February 28, 2013 at 7:24 AM
the dog got out of its cage?why wasnt this monster confined better?the dog was shot in the driveway,thats OUTSIDE!just another pit lover blaming everyone else for their stupid monster killer attacking someone.these dogs need to be eradicate.ghetto ass people putting the rest of our children in danger.
March 1, 2013 at 4:31 AM
Wow for some one who's probably never even been near a pit you sure have a hell of an opinion about them. I've raised many pits and not one has ever been aggressive in the least. it's people as ignorant as you who need to be eradicated not the dogs!
February 28, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Haha oh my goodness… These dogs are not monsters. I see pits all the time in east Grand Rapids which is not the ghetto. People’s children are not at stake…you should be nervous about other large breeds as much as any pit. I’ve had a friend who was bitten by a German shepherd in the face and another who had her calf almost ripped off my a German shepherd. Should the whole breed be condemned then? And be shot 11 times for protecting its owner? What dog wouldn’t feel that natural urge to protect are you kidding me? If the breed has been left out of this story people would probably feel more compassion however because it is a pit now people think its justifies. If you are a dog lover this story would make you sad.
February 28, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Jeff, is it because you have never had a bond with a loving animal that you are able to say such harsh cruel cold things about a pitbull?! CLEARLY you have never met one or you would never say such ignorant things, I am sad for you. I am an educated 31 year old caucasian woman who has been working in the healthcare field for 13 years, I have 1 pure breed pit that I rescued from the SPCA after she had been abandoned in an apartment for 3 days with no food or water and 2 pit mixes that have similar sad stories so I do not fit your ignorant racist stereotype, nor do millions of pitbull owners and lovers. I urge you and all who think so poorly about the breed to read The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant, it is the story of the rescue and redemption of Michael Vick's dogs, if you are able to get through the first few chapters without a box of kleenex, it will be a surprise and you will see what horrible things must be done for these poor sweet loving forgiving creatures to fight, it is fight or die for the unfortunate that do end up in the wrong hands of horrible people. Many of Vick's dogs are currently working as therapy dogs, monster killers?! I THINK NOT!
February 28, 2013 at 9:47 PM
There seems to be a lot of people blowing smoke here with a dog. What about the teenage perps and the guy sitting in jail for shoving the officer? Would really like to see and hear what priors are on the people that caused the problems in all of this….
March 1, 2013 at 7:31 AM
The officers broke into his house illegally. Yes it was illegally, you need a warrant to go into a house by force. They then shot their dog, who was doing nothing. You really expect the guy to NOT do anything? I'd be fucking throwing fists at the cops too. I don't give a damn who you are. You break into my house, or harm my animals, you're going down.
March 1, 2013 at 6:52 AM
fuck the police !
March 3, 2013 at 1:18 PM
No reason to enter their home huh? ha GRPD were doing their job to protect and serve they were activley pursuing a suspect! Now if it was under different circumstances like they were chasing an armed robber everyone would be thanking GRPD for catching a dangerous criminal! A crime is a crime and a suspect is a suspect no matter if they were just throwing snowballs! The only ignorance here is the parents of these kids n the owner of the dog who told the dog to attack! Thats bs our cops risk their lives everyday and we have dog owners telling their animals to attack! Its only being made a big deal cuz it was a pitt, so what at the end of the day a dangerous animal is a dangerous animal and you shoot to kill! Point blank!
March 4, 2013 at 10:24 AM
FOR ALL OF YALL MAKING RUDE COMMENTS THAT WAS MY DOG DONT NO ONE OF YALL KNOW THE REAL STORY SO STFU….. YALL WOULD BE PISSED IF SOMEONE SHOT YOUR DOG WHICH IS BASICALLY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER FOR ME HE WAS MY BROTHER THANKS ALOTT GRPD FOR TAKING MY BROTHER AWAY FROM ME
March 5, 2013 at 1:17 AM
More abuse of power by trigger happy bullies with badges. I am shocked that anyone could say that this is keeping the neighborhood safe? Firing off 13 shots at a family pet. Invading someones home over throwing snowballs? This is crazy. Our government seems to be attacking innocent family pets and going overboard in punishing very minor acts such as snowball throwing. I'm sickened and dismayed.
March 5, 2013 at 2:49 AM
Will someone.please.tell.this family that their civil rights have been violated and they need to demand that this incident be thuroughly investigated by the state not the department. And they have lots of support as this is not a rare.occurance.but something that is on its way out.
Police have been officially warned by their own legal defense to stop shooting pets.or face losing huge lawsuits, and worse.
Please research and get a smart lawyer who understands this is a federal civil rights case and go from there. Do not even deal locally except for.documenting everything and filing charges against these pigs and the city if necessary.
March 5, 2013 at 3:23 AM
http://www.examiner.com/article/law-enforcement-today-article-warns-police-not-to-kill-family-dogs?fb_action_ids=10151468302805859&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B219577038166960%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D
March 21, 2013 at 11:21 PM
My buddy Alonzo gets his family member taken away because he was throwing snowballs?? Cops invaded his home while they were ordered to stay outside because they knew the dog would attack them because they were intruders. The dog was doing his job as a mans best friend to protect his family against intruders and he ends up losing his life for it? Way to go GRPD make all the excuses you want but no matter what it is nothing but BS!
April 21, 2013 at 4:18 AM
A dog cannot attack someone just for coming on your property. The cops followed the guy into the house because of officer safety, they did not do an illegal search. If that dog attaed me I would shoot it too. Owning a Pit is ghetto.