Commerce City, CO — Commerce city taxpayers have just been hit with a $262,000 bill for a settlement in an incident where someone’s dog was needlessly shot and killed by police.
According to the report, On November 24, 2012, Commerce City police responded to reports of a “loose, vicious dog.” When officers arrived on scene, a small woman was able to get the catchpole around the dog’s neck. However, officer Robert Price felt it necessary to taser the dog, whose name was Chloe, and then shoot her five times.
The graphic incident was captured on a neighbor’s cellphone and was used as evidence in the case.
Officer Price was subsequently charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals. However, as is typical in police officers charged with crimes caught on video, an Adams County jury found him not guilty. Commerce City police documents obtained by KDVR show an internal affairs investigation ruled Price was “within policy” when he killed the dog.
After the not guilty verdict, Chloe’s owner, Gary Branson took civil action against Commerce City and to avoid going to federal court, the city agreed to pay $262,000. According to the Animal Law Center, this is the largest settlement of its kind in American history.
In addition to the settlement, Commerce City spent $125,227.38 in legal fees, according to KDVR.
Last year The Free Thought Project reported on a slew of tragic dog shootings, including one department in Buffalo, NY whose officers shot 92 dogs from Jan. 1, 2011 through Sept. 2014.
Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/largest-settlement-dog-killing-history-paid-cops-murder-restrained-dog-video/#vyjpAiOlFZ2QsCCR.99
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