Some viewers may find the above video disturbing. The dog survived.
OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 31, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Ogden Police Department has released a video of an officer shooting a dog that barked and charged him as he walked onto residential property on Tuesday as part of his job.
The dog survived the shooting, and has been treated and returned to its owners, and the police has cleared the officer of wrongdoing in the case, police officials said.
On Friday morning, the department released the footage along with its account of what transpired:
“On Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at approximately 11:45 a.m., Ogden Police Officers were dispatched to a West Ogden address on a request for assistance from the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The DCFS investigator had received a report of unsafe conditions for the children in the home and requested officers be present as she attempted to contact and interview a number of adults reported to be living there. Ogden Police Officers J. Beck and J. Grimes met with the investigator near the residence and received a briefing on the situation. As a result, the officers approached the residence followed by the DCFS investigator.
“As the officers entered the driveway, a large pit bull dog approached in a clearly aggressive manner from around the side of a pickup truck. The dog was attached to a cable that appeared to be tied to the back tailgate of the pickup truck, but the cable was slack.
“The officers stopped and called out to an adult male in the driveway, asking if the dog was friendly. The adult male answered that the dog was not and he would take it into the house. However, before the adult male could get to the dog, the dog attacked Officer Grimes, making continued physical contact with Officer Grimes and trying to bite him.
“Officer Grimes was attempting to get away from the dog but could not because the dog continued the attack. Officer Grimes drew his duty firearm and fired one round. After being struck by the bullet, the dog continued the attack until reaching the end of the cable, then ceased attacking and retreated.
“Ogden Animal Services officers were called to the scene to take custody of the dog in accordance with policies regarding dog attacks. The owner of the dog placed a muzzle on the dog and then Ogden Animal Services Officers transported the dog to a veterinary hospital where the dog was treated for superficial injuries and then returned to the owner.
“The Ogden Police Department policy and protocols for the shooting of aggressive animals requires an administrative investigation take place. The investigation has been conducted and finds Officer Grimes acted in accordance with Department policies and procedures.
“The Ogden Police Department is sensitive to the concerns of the public in regards to the shooting of dogs, but also recognizes that sometimes situations arise in the course of an officer’s duties which require an officer to shoot a dog in order to protect themselves or a third party.”
