Officer fires at pit bull following traffic stop
Rocky Mountain News
Published July 7, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
A Dacono police officer apparently shot a pit bull that lunged at officers from the car of a Platteville man who was pulled over following a brief chase Sunday on Interstate 25, the Colorado State Patrol reported. The incident happened at an RTD park-n-Ride near the intersection of I-25 and Colorado 52, patrol spokesman Gilbert Mares said. At 1:41 p.m., a driver called the patrol to report a suspected drunken driver of a red 1999 Ford heading south on I-25. A trooper tried to stop the car, but the driver would not pull over, Mares said.
The car got off the highway and headed west on Colorado 52, stopping at the park-n-Ride, where the driver surrendered.
The dog leaped from the driver's side window and charged a Frederick police officer who had stopped to assist the trooper. The Frederick officer used his Taser on the dog, Mares said.
The dog then charged a Dacono officer who also was there to assist. That officer fired a shot that police believe hit the animal. The dog ran away and has not been found, Mares said.
Officers arrested Raul Sanchez, 32, of Platteville. He was booked into the Weld County jail pending charges.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
2008 Voter’s Guide
Use our Ballot Builder tool to compare your viewpoints to the candidates.
-
A Dozen on Denver
Sandra Dallas wrote 'Lennie's tavern' for our ongoing fiction series. Check it out!
-
Rocky Multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on today's events.
-
Bronco Dean's rant
Listen to Bronco Dean's totally biased pregame rant about the Broncos-Jaguars game.
-
Presidential Elections
See how Colorado counties have voted through the years.
-
County election profiles
A look at how residents in each Colorado county may vote.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
-
Latest from Dove Valley
Click for more broncos videos.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
No. 44 means a lot to Floyd Little
July 7, 2008
1:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
dj80long writes:
"Officer fires at pit bull following traffic stop"
Nothing worse than a drunken pit bull driving down I-25.
July 7, 2008
3:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Really makes me wonder why was the pit bull shot.
The owner may ave been committing the crime but why shoot the dog.
Did he know for sure the guy was drunk or did he know the dog was dangerous.
How did he know te dog did not need to relieve itself.
I don't like the pit bull but what gave the officer the right to taser and shoot it.
What a jerk.
July 7, 2008
4:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
Human being or dog? It's the dog owner who got his dog shot by failing to have the dog under his control. The reason I train my dogs? Because I love them to teach them, just like my children. Some people should not have animals; they cause a lot of hardship on the animal with thier irresponsibility. Idiots like this owner, are the reason for the terrible laws that ban some breeds unnecessarily. Sad that good people, and great animals, have to suffer unjust laws because of fools who are so damn irresponsible. I have owned some of the best animals, from pitbulls to race horses (my father owned several trotters and pacers, as my family was into harness horse racing for years). I loved them enough to keep them safe and under my control. An irresponsible owner causes everyone problems, and are harmful to the animal they profess to love.
July 7, 2008
4:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
happymike44, I believed the dog jumped out and lunged at the cop, unless I am reading the article incorrectly.
July 7, 2008
7:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
PMSXpress writes:
This is what is written in the article:
The dog leaped from the driver's side window and charged a Frederick police officer who had stopped to assist the trooper. ... and then....
The dog then charged a Dacono officer who also was there to assist.
So first tasered, then shot. I'd say the driver is the jerk for not keeping his dog back in his car when he was pulled over in the first place.
We know you're a dog lover Mike, most of us are. But this was over the top.
July 7, 2008
8:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
hoek writes:
Dog owners need to take responsibility for their dogs. I had a Great Dane grab my arm from behind while I was merely running in Harvard Gulch Park. That required a trip to the emergency room. The owner lied about where he lived to avoid further responsibility.
I get very weary of people letting dogs loose. Owners might think their dog is cute. But I have no idea whether the dog is going to attack.
The Police officers are not jerks. They did the right thing. There is no reason they should allow themselves to be harmed by such a dog. The owner needs to have an additional fine for not taking responsibility for his dog.
July 7, 2008
8:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Buckwheat writes:
Pitbull lunging at someone and getting shot? Gee, what are the odds. Guess the Officer should have read him his rights first. Darn trigger happy pigs, should have tried to talk him down first, maybe throw him a Milk Bone.
July 7, 2008
8:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
newshound writes:
I don't understand why any of you are upset that the dog was shot. Pit Bulls can be great dogs, but when they are going after people they can be very dangerous. I have no problem with a dead pit-pull, because the police officer has the right to defend himself. And don't overlook the worst part: The guy was drunk, leading police on a chase. Who cares about the dog, let give praise to the citizen that called in the DUI suspicion. Drunks and pit-bulls: Don't need 'em.
July 7, 2008
8:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
WarrenJimmyBuffett writes:
Pitbull owners should be required to get $1,000,000 liability insurance and should also be charged with a mandatory felony if the dog attacks.
July 7, 2008
8:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Shadow writes:
Was the pitt bull another dispolaced migrant worker? I am betting that Raul Sanchez is. Therefore the police must have been profileing him to stop his drunk driving. Wil the ACLU get involved or not. Where is LaRaza? Why are they not up in arms over this unprovoked attack upon a hispanic dog?
Silliness aside. I am finding it a little hard to believe that the dog just decided to jump out the window and attack/or be aggresive to the police like this.
July 7, 2008
9:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Retread writes:
PITBULL, that is all the cops and the public sees, automatically the animal is out to kill! Thanks to our news media and anti pitbull stance these dogs are automatically vicious. I do blame the drunken owner to a point, if you are going out for a drunken drive, do not take your dog! You cannot control your dog from the back of a police car with handcuffs on. And cops, leave the dog alone, call animal control, or even let the man have his dog in the back of the car with him, they can share the same cell...LMAO...
July 7, 2008
9:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
Funny how the nutcases whine when attacking dogs get neutralized.
They're the same nutcases that french kiss their mutts and think it's natural. The same morons that drive their mutt to the store and then leave them in the car to bark at people walking by. The same nuts that waste their money on little Fifi and then demand that taxpayers support them because they can't support themselves. The same morons that allow their mutts to roam free, and then are shocked when anyone dares to point out the stupidity of doing so.
The only thing dumber than a pitbull, are the idiot "humans" that defend them.
July 7, 2008
10:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Like I said I am not a fan of a pit bull but now the dog is injured.
Running loose and scared so now that these two fine men have left him to fend for himself.
Wrong that poor dog will now be found or seen loose and be shot.
Our boys in blue strike again,just because a dog looks mean does not make it so.
As for the drunken idiot of a owner he should be charged with animal endangerment.
Plus whatever else is coming his way.
My dog means the world to me anyone who harmed him would be in a world of trouble.
I just feel sorry for this poor pit bull out there by himself.
July 7, 2008
10:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
Once again, some poor animal pays the price for his drunken, police-evading, loser of an owner.
This guy should also be charged assault with a deadly weapon. It really doesn't matter; he'll be back out on the street by the time you read this.
July 7, 2008
10:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
M2 writes:
All dogs belong on a farm. Not in a city.
July 7, 2008
10:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
American100 writes:
Me2-Shut Up.
"All dogs belong on a farm. Not in a city." Pleeeze.
There are lots of happy city dogs. It's the owner who is irresponsible.
July 7, 2008
11:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
mtnsrfer writes:
It's not the dog that's a problem, it's the idiots that have them. It seems to me, the people who want pitbulls, are the people who shouldn't even have a dog. Two days ago, four hoodrats were walking up my street, with their pitbull wondering through eveyones yard. The dog wound up on my front porch, with my dogs going nuts behind the door. The four hoodrats thought it was the funniest thing they ever saw. They were on the other side of a busy street a block up before the dog left.
Next time, that dog is going to eat some mace. They can have much worse if they like.
July 7, 2008
11:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
ggonzo writes:
people! people! You should be requiried to take a 6week class on dogs and have some type of insurance policy, this way all the getto people would not have pitbulls! only the responsible!!!
Getto pit owners are not the brightest!!!! sorry getto people, but you need to evolve!!!!
July 7, 2008
11:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Quagmate writes:
When a dog lunges twice, a dog large enoug to kill a person, the officer or person has NO IDEA WHAT THE DOG WILL DO.
The officer cannot read the dogs mind and to my knowledge dogs don't talk. If it was me I would have shot the dog also because at that moment it is the dog or you, there is no other choice.
Who is responsible? The owner. The owner put everyone in that position, including the dog.
The answer. The solution is dog insurance. Plain and simple if you own a dog that is a known bite risk (Rotts and Pit Bulls) you pay more. It's like owning a sports car, you pay more because you can go faster and it's a higher risk. Make people pay extra and they will either change their habits or not own the dog. Owners must take responsibility for all types of dogs. Owners are the key here, not dogs.
July 7, 2008
12:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
jax writes:
Easy answer: Arrest the dog and shoot the drunk!
To my knowledge most dogs would attempt to protect their owner, so I don't believe the breed matters. If the owner isn't smart enough to train the dog, he doesn't deserve to have the dog. I do feel bad for the dog, who is wandering around wounded, but the officer is not to blame either as he also has a right to protect himself. Definitely the drunks fault - I say shoot HIM and all will be well!
July 7, 2008
12:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
rg52 writes:
I will always blame the owner. The same as blaming the parent. If they let the animal/child behave badly, then there are consequesnces. I will try to defend myself and others against a dog that attacks, even if it is only trying to protect the owner.
Poor dogs are getting a bad rep for what the owners are doing.
From the article the officers were just defending themselve from an aggressive dog, and they had the right to take it down.
As for the 'stupid' comment 'all dogs belong on a farm', demonstrates how ignorant some people show themselves to be. I suppose we need to have a toy poodle on the farm, chasing the cows, good for commic relief.
July 7, 2008
1:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
conniesz writes:
"Mixed breeds and not pure bred dogs are the type of dog most often involved in inflicting bites to people. The pure-bred dogs most often involved are German shepherds and Chow chows." - from Dog Bite Statistics
Complied by dog bite legal expert, Richard H. Polsky, Ph.D., CAAB
So much for the Pit Bull myth.
July 7, 2008
1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
my3pugs writes:
I would have to assume that the officer felt that he was in danger before shooting. A tasered dog that is still able to charge is a dangerous thing.
July 7, 2008
1:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
pj48b writes:
Should have shot the driver too.. might save us lawyer fees, and supporting the driver while in jail. Ten bucks says it was an illegal.....
July 7, 2008
2:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
This story is so sad and depressing. The owner should have been the one tasered, and than, if necessary, shot. His a jerk for not taking the needed precautions to insure the safety of his pet. A dog is alot like a child, if your not careful in its upbringing its going to turn into a bad apple.
:( I only hope the creature didnt suffer to terribly, though a .45 causes an astounding amount of bodily damage. I'm shocked it was able to flee at all. I'm assuming it must have been struck, according to the report last night, and the 'large' trail of blood leading off into the field. With all the adrenaline running through its body, I'm sure it made good distance.
Here its hard to blame the officers. I'd rather shot a man than a dog, in a bad situation. In this case it seems unaviodable. I once had my dog run at a woman for no apparently reason, she stopped when I barked angrily at her, but it woke me up to how easily things could have gone sour. I took a long, patiant and determined effort to train her. She doesnt charge anyone anymore, its all about breakin bad behavior traits.
Poor thing.
God bless.
Isaac
July 7, 2008
2:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotUrFriend writes:
CONNIESZ:
can I get that website? Please email it to me, if you could! I'd really appreciate it!!!
Isaac
i1941g@aol.com
July 7, 2008
3:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
Pit bull taking care of his master huh ?
July 7, 2008
3:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dr_Jones writes:
If a pitbull jumps out a window and charges towards me. I'd plant
six right between its eyes.
July 7, 2008
4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Jim writes:
conniesz. try this link.
http://www.dogexpert.com/
July 7, 2008
5:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
Quagmate writes:
The Mixed Breed issue may be answere here:
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/stati...
This line especially:
The deadliest dogs
Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People, has conducted an unusually detailed study of dog bites from 1982 to the present. (Clifton, Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to November 13, 2006; click here to read it.) The Clifton study show the number of serious canine-inflicted injuries by breed. The author's observations about the breeds and generally how to deal with the dangerous dog problem are enlightening.
According to the Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes are responsible for 74% of attacks that were included in the study, 68% of the attacks upon children, 82% of the attacks upon adults, 65% of the deaths, and 68% of the maimings. In more than two-thirds of the cases included in the study, the life-threatening or fatal attack was apparently the first known dangerous behavior by the animal in question. Clifton states:
If almost any other dog has a bad moment, someone may get bitten, but will not be maimed for life or killed, and the actuarial risk is accordingly reasonable. If a pit bull terrier or a Rottweiler has a bad moment, often someone is maimed or killed--and that has now created off-the-chart actuarial risk, for which the dogs as well as their victims are paying the price.
Clifton's opinions are as interesting as his statistics. For example, he says, "Pit bulls and Rottweilers are accordingly dogs who not only must be handled with special precautions, but also must be regulated with special requirements appropriate to the risk they may pose to the public and other animals, if they are to be kept at all."
July 7, 2008
10:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
backspace writes:
Sickening! The police are despicable. There were other ways to diffuse the situation, but instead no dog was going to make a fool out of a cop, BAM! he takes one to the chest! These people make
me sick. I hope this big bad cop is proud of himself.