Des Moines to pay $51,000 over fatal shooting of dog

[The Straight Story]

A couple whose dog was shot and killed by Des Moines police after they confronted the barking animal will be awarded at least $51,000 in a settlement reached late last month.

Charles and Dierdre Wright filed a federal lawsuit against Des Moines police, claiming their civil rights were violated when officers shot Rosie, a Newfoundland, in November 2010. The couple claimed the three officers were intent on shooting the 115-pound dog soon after encountering the animal, according to court papers.

The officers had responded to a report of a loose dog in the Wrights’ Des Moines neighborhood, phoned in by a neighbor who was concerned that Rosie might get hurt. The Wrights were out of town at the time, and the 4-year-old dog somehow got out of their yard.

Over the course of about an hour, the officers twice used a Taser on Rosie, chased her for blocks and ultimately shot the dog four times with an assault rifle in a stranger’s backyard.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020398702_rosiesettlementxml.html?cmpid=2628

[Madrona]

1. Cops High fived each other after they shot Rosie--she was cowering in some bushes.

The woman who owned the home in whose backyard Rosie ended up pleaded with the cops not to kill Rosie. She pleaded with them to leave Rosie in her yard and she would just shut the gate. The cops refused, although they did wait until the woman went in the house and herded her children to the opposite side of the house so the children couldn't see the cops executing a dog who had not threatened them in any way--a dog who only ran in fear.

After they shot Rosie, the cops were jubilent, the shooter exclaiming that Rosie was the biggest animal he'd ever shot.

Several judges in several of the counties around Seattle refused to hear the case. The owners finally found a judge who would hear it, but by the time he gave a ruling, he threw the case out because the statute of limitations had run out.

Reminds me of all the illegal arrests at the WTO. The final cases were tried in the last couple of years--none of the nonviolent protesters would give up their right to a trial. The city lost every single case. The cops made up evidence, but were caught out by citizen videos.

This is just another example of why we need to watch government officials and get rid of gag laws.

[The Straight Story]

2. Welcome to DU and thanks for the info (nt)