Lawsuit filed after Loveland police officer shoots dog. By the police. He has lived in the Aurora/Southeast Denver Metro area since 1965 and is an expert Getting ready for a yard project? Im not in the business to get bit, shared Grashorn. "This is yet another agonizing illustration of all that is wrong at the Loveland Police Department," Love and Hamm's attorney, Sarah Schielke, at a press conference Wednesday. Herkimer was taken to Colorado State University, Love said, after he was seized from his owners. It continues: Rather than take less than two steps back into his vehicle to give Ms. Love and Mr. Hamm an opportunity to control Bubba, Officer Grashorn, still moving towards the family, immediately pulled out his firearm and pointed it at Bubba. So, if a suspect comes at me with a knife, I need to try and Tase him before I shoot him? The officers in the incident were responding to a trespassing call. Love said at the time, Max was on a leash while Bubba and Herkimer were both off leash and relied on voice commands, which Love said they were good at following. Loveland police release video, audio from shooting of man in crisis Police said the man resisted the arrest. Karen Garner incident, in which a 73-year-old dementia patient suffered a broken arm following a violent arrest by Loveland Police. Nor was there any indication Loveland received complaints about its police officers shooting pet dogs. In the video, the woman became increasingly emotional and asked if she could get the dog to a veterinarian. At around 10 minutes into the body camera footage, several other officers can be seen on scene helping Love and the dog. News / May 1, 2023 / 05:11 AM MDT. The dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier/boxer mix. Colorado Police Officer Sued for 'Recklessly' Shooting Family Dog Philip Metzler, from the lawsuit for their roles in the shooting. No reasonable officer or reasonable person would have perceived this situation as a threat requiring the immediate euthanization of an innocent citizens beloved pet. He was known to be affectionate and friendly with both people and other dogs.. It was not agricultural land. Herkimer immediately goes limp after being shot and Love runs to offer the dog aid. Police officer sued after shooting puppy dead in front of its owners 2 reviews. That is likely due to the officer not activating his camera until after the shooting takes place. Hes right! Loveland Police Sued After Officer Shoots Puppy And he was shot dead in broad daylight. 5.1.2023 2:25 PM, Eric Boehm Hopp says to the other officer as they watch the video of him dislocating Garner's shoulder. The woman said she thought the dog might survive. It also seeks interest and attorneys fees and costs. This image taken from Loveland, Colo., Police Department body camera footage shows Officer Matthew Grashorn pointing his gun at a dog he shot after it ran toward him on June 29, 2019, after he got out of his patrol car. Officer Grashorn did not put his firearm away. According to the lawsuit, Garner suffers from dementia and sensory aphasia, which makes it difficult for her to communicate and understand other people. The lawsuit alleges that Grashorn's shooting of Herkimer was an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment and violated their constitutional rights. Body camera footage of the June 26, 2020, incident showed the officer, Austin Hopp, stopping Garner as she was walking home and picking wildflowers. By the police. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reason has been covering sad incidents of "puppycide" like Herkimer's for decades now. There was no threat to him at all. The case isLove et al. Read full. Seconds later, Officer Matthew Grashorn fired two shots at the puppy. Walmart refused and instead called LPD to deal with it. According to the lawsuit, at the time of the incident Wendy Love and her husband Jay Hamm owned Herkimer. He added, though, that he wanted Loveland to send police to see what they were up to. A couple whose young dog was shot by a police officer in Loveland has filed a lawsuit accusing the officers supervisors of covering up what happened and claiming that the city has fostered a culture that encourages the use of force. Get in the truck! the officer answered. 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It openly trades heightened risk to the lives and safety of individual citizens in order to promote or attract more business development. 8.27.2021 3:20 PM. "No reasonable officer or reasonable person would have perceived this situation as a threat requiring the immediate destruction of an innocent citizens beloved pet," wrote lawyer Sarah Schielke. According to the lawsuit, Wendy Love and her husband Jay Hamm who were making firewood deliveries in Loveland, had stopped in a vacant parking lot next to an apparently vacant commercial building to make some repairs to a large box they were going to use for their final firewood delivery of the day. Ms. Love and Mr. Hamm quite startled immediately did so. As for the plaintiffs' claim against Metzler that he retaliated against them after learning they planned to go to the media by ordering they be cited for a vicious dog Moore believed his behavior was not "shocking. C.J. It's official: Jamal Murray, Nuggets are in Phoenix's heads now. [images via body camera video and via the lawsuit], Have a tip we should know? During this time, the lawsuit claims, an internal investigation into the incident was launched and Chief Bob Ticer and other supervisory staff reviewed the body-worn camera footage and report and eventually declared Grashorns use of lethal force was justified. Geisenfeld - Wikipedia The selection changes often, but if you love good Buying or selling a home is the largest financial investment most people ever make. 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He tells her she needs to wait until his sergeant arrives to investigate the scene. He suspected that they were poor and wanted to surprise them, to see if they were up to anything he might be able to get an arrest for.. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism However, department officials later deemed the actions Grashorn took were appropriate. "Please let me see him," Love wailed, and Grashorn again ordered her back to the truck. A civil lawsuit filed in Larimer County District Court accuses Loveland police officer Mat Grashorn of "recklessly killing" Wendy Love and her husband Jay Hamm's 14-month-old dog, a. Editors Warning: Video footage of the incident included in this article is graphic. Schielke said her clients were traumatized by the shooting that took place and chose to file a lawsuit after being unable to peacefully move on from the tragic shooting. The statement continues: LPD understands the publics concerns and the emotions this video elicits. I cant believe you fucking shot him! the man appeared to yell from the distance but he was a bit hard to make out. This happened in June 2019 but came Schielkes attention after she filed a lawsuit against Loveland police involved in the rough arrest of dementia patient Karen Garner earlier this year. Grashorn immediately points his gun at the dogs and can be seen firing two shots at one of the dogs, identified as Herkimer. A Loveland couple is filing a lawsuit against police and the city after an officer shot and killed their 14-month-old puppy, Herkimer, while investigating a trespassing complaint in 2019,. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Hes a puppy! the woman yelled. In June 2019, Loveland police officer Matthew Grashorn arrived in an empty car park, where Wendy Love and her husband were letting their three dogs run around and drink water. This image taken from Loveland, Colo., Police Department body camera footage shows Officer Matthew Grashorn pointing his gun at a dog he shot after it ran toward him on June 29, 2019, after he got out of his patrol car. LPDs chain of command reviewed the video five months later and found the shooting violated no policy and was reasonable, according to Schielke. She was told to fill out a form, which she filled out at home. Secure your subscription to Colorados premier political news journal, in continuous publication since 1898. The dog, a 14-month-old Staffordshire terrier-boxer mix named Herkimer, was later euthanized. No case law prohibited him from using force under those circumstances, Grashorn added. Once he saw a dog running towards him, he relished in the opportunity to shoot it and did not care at all about other alternatives. 5.1.2023 2:50 PM, Jacob Sullum The lawsuit names the woman, Wendy Love, and the man, Jay Hamm, as plaintiffs. He was also involved in the violent arrest of an elderly women with dementia one year after Herkimer's killing. Moore noted the law is clear that killing a pet dog without justification, as Grashorn reportedly did with 14-month-old Herkimer, amounts to a constitutional violation. Jay Hamm points out Grashorn could have used his taser on the dog. Loveland couple files lawsuit over shooting of dog who ran at officer Man arrested after shots fired Saturday night outside Budweiser Events LPD sent multiple officers, including Sergeant Metzler, to locate and tackle Ms. Garner, causing her to suffer a broken and dislocated shoulder. I have to do whats going to work. While Moore acknowledged Colorado's police accountability law went into effect after Herkimer's killing, he agreed with Love and Hamm that other courts are currently interpreting the law's application and it would be premature to toss that portion of the lawsuit until there is clarity. Why did you do that? Love said through tears. "What in the world is going on in Loveland that these things keep coming out?" Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. The multiple officers involved did this knowing that Walmart hadnt suffered any loss. Love and Hamm were delivering firewood for their business on the evening of June 29, 2019 when they stopped in the parking lot of a commercial building. Grashorn and Metzler knew this, the lawsuit says, pointing to other body camera video as proof the men talked about it but they continued anyway. Don't Threaten. LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) A civil lawsuit has been filed against the Loveland Police Department and City of Loveland after a police officer shot a couple's 14-month-old dog. It had no vehicles parked in or near it. That day, they decided on the lot in the 900 block of North Wilson Avenue . I just hope things change at that police force, Hamm said. An article from the Loveland-Reporter Herald at the time, relying on a statement issued by the police, reported Herkimer had run at Grashorn "aggressively" and that responding officers "immediately gave aide to the dog.". Herkimer could have been any of our beloved pets. Love began to scream and cry, begging the officer to let her help Herkimer and take him to the vet; the officer said no, and told her there was nothing to be done, according to the suit. But, pursuant to the Dog Protection Act, alternate types of control should be considered prior to the use of deadly force against a dog and, if feasible, allow the owner the opportunity to remove the dog from the immediate area., The suit claims that the day after Love went in to issue her complaint, Sgt. "You're not gonna be able to help him," Grashorn continued to yell at the couple. The Loveland Police Department has released 911 audio and body camera footage from the police shooting of a 19-year-old last week. Herkimers body fell to the ground, stiff and paralyzed, his eyes wide open in distress. Colorado Cop Kills "Loving" Puppy For Running To Greet Him, Gets Sued - God Hamm added there had never been a sign in that parking lot saying not to trespass. Yeah. He will bite you! the officer repeated several times under the apparent supposition that the dog was vicious. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Later, when the officer walked to the couples truck, the lawsuit states, Hamm demanded to know why the officer would shoot a clearly friendly dog. Grashorn responded that he had no way of knowing that, adding that he was not in the business to get bit. Hamm demanded to know why the officer did not use a stun gun on the puppy instead of a firearm. released along with the lawsuit shows Grashorn stepping out of his police cruiser. Privacy Policy | Body-cam video of Grashorn inside his patrol vehicle shows the officer talking to his supervisor about which charges to file against the couple. The news comes after a couple filed a. A couple whose young dog was shot by a police officer in Loveland has filed a lawsuit accusing the officer's supervisors of covering up what happened and claiming that the city has fostered. City council member Don Overcash repeatedly cites this policy in City Council meetings, in addition to even having opinion pieces authored by himself published in the Loveland Reporter-Herald stating the same. It pauses and turns toward its owners, but Herkimer jumps out of the truck and lopes toward Grashorn with its tail wagging. The video later indicates that the officer was called to the scene to investigate a report of trespassing. Love and Hamm's other dog, Bubba, is sleeping on the ground but gets up and begins running toward the officer. 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In 2019, a Faulkner County, Arkansas, sheriff's deputy, and charged with animal cruelty after he casually shot a small dog because the owner refused to walk outside to talk to him. Accessibility Help. Warning: graphic content below. Really from every second from inception of this encounter through the end, his judgment is terrible, theres no common sense, theres no care. The plaintiffs countered there was a range of options available to Grashorn other than deadly force. Grashorn: You need to listen to what youre telling me. His path of travel as he got closer to Grashorn was also not pointed towards Grashorn but instead was visibly slowing and veering off to the side in a C-shape, due to him beginning to point himself back to his owners who were calling him. Soon after they stopped, Herkimer was shot by Loveland Police Department officer Mat Grashorn who was responding to the trespassing call and saw the dog as a threat; several days later Herkimer had to be euthanized. The officer continued to try to order the couple into a truck. Dog and cat antibiotics are medications prescribed by a veterinarian that can help treat a bacterial infection. Officers received a report at around 11:45 p.m. about gunshots outside of the arena in east Loveland. It feels like (Grashorn) had some other agenda that day, Love said. The owner of the building, watching remote surveillance video of the lot, asked police to check on what they were doing there. Loveland police officer Mat Grashorn pulled up in his patrol vehicle and got out without announcing himself, the complaint shows. "We recognize the need for transparency and accountability in City processes and intend to pursue a fair and complete investigation into all the facts," said Adams. As the couple and their dogs stood outside of their truck, the buildings owner was watching remote surveillance video from the lot and saw the truck in the back corner. As the dogs owner, Love, tries to approach the dog, Grashorn can be heard saying, Maam, get away. The officer then yelled at the woman to get away from the mortally wounded dog, saying it would bite her. I dont know, because hes coming after me like hes going to bite me, the Loveland Police Department officer replied. Body camera video shows Jay Hamm pointing to the ice cooler he says he was going to paint in a vacant parking lot in Loveland, Colo. Well, youre in a big hurry to get to the track nows your opportunity, the officer said. is becoming more and more transparent now that its officers started wearing body cameras in May 2019. Theres nothing like lazy summer days relaxing on the patio. Moore, the district judge, did not watch the video before ruling on the motion to dismiss, but found the allegations in the plaintiffs' complaint sufficiently described a clear constitutional violation. Hamm, on the other hand, said he knew right away. Dogs are our family. While in the parking lot, the couple let each dog out of the truck to drink water. August 27, 2021 at 6:27 a.m. EDT A couple are suing a Loveland, Colorado, police officer who they say used excessive force when he shot their 14-month-dog that jumped out of a truck and ran. He added that he believes no one in Loveland is safe with how things are at the LPD. Photo courtesy of Sarah . Fred Smith knows real estate. Get to your truck! Franz Altendorfer. The claims for relief include: The suit requests that a jury trial be held and that the court reward Love and Hamm with, among other things, compensation for this class as well as punitive or exemplary damages against those named. Fred Smith knows real estate. Mr. Hendrickson decided he would call Loveland police to investigate them. Lordstown warns it may fail as investor Foxconn gets, South Park, Star Wars license plates up for auction, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Is it legal to have a tinted license plate cover, Aerosmith says farewell with one last Denver show, Denver restaurant closes after 50 years in business, Set of quadruplets set to graduate from MSU together, Search continues for missing Lakewood man, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. | The owner of the building at 995 N. Wilson Ave. saw the couple on his surveillance feed and called Loveland police to investigate, citing previous tampering on the premises. Love and Hamm had spent most of June 29, 2019, delivering firewood along with their three dogs, Bubba, Max and Herkimer, the lawsuit states. Philip Metzler, Chief Robert Ticer, and the City of Loveland, Colo. About five minutes into the video, another officer can be seen on scene. Before coming to Loveland, he graduated from Colorado State University in May 2020 with two bachelor's degrees, one in journalism and media communications and one in history. And he was shot dead in broad daylight. He told dispatch that someone had tampered with the dumpster lock on the property once previously and he didnt want the truck occupants to mess with it. Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Loveland Police Officer Seen On Video Philip Metzler; Loveland Police Chief Robert Ticer; and the city of Loveland because they hope to change a department that needs to be cleaned out.. Loveland will launch another investigation into, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Colorado property tax relief: Polis, lawmakers reveal plan to ease skyrocketing tax bills, Loveland will launch another investigation into police in response to shooting of dog, Technical issues closes Colorado DMV statewide, online services unaffected, Crash on I-225 near Parker Road briefly closes southbound lanes, 14-year-old girl missing since Friday, Denver police appealing for help. Two officers arrived, and one shot the dog as it approached him. Five months after killing Herkimer, Defendant Officer Grashorn and Defendant Sergeant Metzler killed a human by shooting her to death, the lawsuit also indicates. The pattern needs to stop, Schielke said. The city statement said that as a result of the litigation stemming from the shooting of the Golden couples dog, the city of Loveland and the Loveland Police Department were sharing their planned action in response to the litigation and related public concerns. The absurd recklessness of this policy and obvious risk it presents to the lives and health of Loveland citizens has played out over and over again quite publicly and quite embarrassingly for Loveland. The Staffordshire terrier-boxer mix had to be euthanized four days later. The lawsuit claims the department reviewed the shooting and ruled the officer was justified in his actions. He died four days after being shot by a Loveland police officer. The lawsuit seeks actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, exemplary damages, a written apology, mandatory training, internal discipline, and police policy changes. I said to Wendy he just shot our dog,' he said. Herkimer put no one in imminent danger.. Hamm said when they got finally got home, they couldnt get Max to leave the truck.
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loveland police dog shooting