Colorado city to pay $262,500 for killing of dog by police
- 8 years ago
COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO — Commerce City will pay what is being called the largest settlement of its kind for the killing of a family's dog by police.
The $262,500 settlement ends years of legal battles between Commerce City's police department and local man Gary Branson, owner of a mixed-bred therapy dog.
In November 2012, police responded to a 911 call about an "aggressive" dog roaming a neighborhood.
"I called police because I saw a dog wandering loose out front," Kenny Collins later told NBC 9 News. "He never came at me in an aggressive manner."
However, during his 911 call he actually stated, "We got a dog that's aggressive out here … It's like a big pit bull mix something. He's outside of our house, barking out our windows and stuff. [He's] barking at our neighbors. He's a big one. If I tap on the window he keeps barking at us [and] being confrontational - and we're in the house."
Collins' neighbor was dog-sitting the Branson's 3-year-old dog named Chloe and thought she had closed the garage upon leaving her home. With the garage open, Chloe left the home and wandered the neighborhood.
Collins told NBC 9 News that he just wanted the police to pick up the dog.
In video footage taken by neighbors, after shooting it with a stun gun, police are seen capturing the dog with a catch pole. Officer Robert Price is seen firing five shots at the dog, killing it.
The Animal Law Center filed a civil suit on behalf of Branson in 2013. Price was charged with aggravated animal cruelty but was acquitted and returned to work in October 2013.
In addition to the $262,500, the city reportedly spent an additional $125,227.38 with the city's out-of-pocket expense being a $50,000 deductible, insurance covering the rest.
"I am happy that we have been vindicated," Branson said. "She deserved justice for what happened to her. This has been a very difficult time for me and am glad that it is now settled."
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The $262,500 settlement ends years of legal battles between Commerce City's police department and local man Gary Branson, owner of a mixed-bred therapy dog.
In November 2012, police responded to a 911 call about an "aggressive" dog roaming a neighborhood.
"I called police because I saw a dog wandering loose out front," Kenny Collins later told NBC 9 News. "He never came at me in an aggressive manner."
However, during his 911 call he actually stated, "We got a dog that's aggressive out here … It's like a big pit bull mix something. He's outside of our house, barking out our windows and stuff. [He's] barking at our neighbors. He's a big one. If I tap on the window he keeps barking at us [and] being confrontational - and we're in the house."
Collins' neighbor was dog-sitting the Branson's 3-year-old dog named Chloe and thought she had closed the garage upon leaving her home. With the garage open, Chloe left the home and wandered the neighborhood.
Collins told NBC 9 News that he just wanted the police to pick up the dog.
In video footage taken by neighbors, after shooting it with a stun gun, police are seen capturing the dog with a catch pole. Officer Robert Price is seen firing five shots at the dog, killing it.
The Animal Law Center filed a civil suit on behalf of Branson in 2013. Price was charged with aggravated animal cruelty but was acquitted and returned to work in October 2013.
In addition to the $262,500, the city reportedly spent an additional $125,227.38 with the city's out-of-pocket expense being a $50,000 deductible, insurance covering the rest.
"I am happy that we have been vindicated," Branson said. "She deserved justice for what happened to her. This has been a very difficult time for me and am glad that it is now settled."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
Visit our official website for all the latest, uncensored videos: http://us.tomonews.net
Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
Check out our iOS app: http://bit.ly/1gO3z1f
Get top stories delivered to your inbox everyday: http://bit.ly/tomo-newsletter
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Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomoNewsUS
Twitter @tomonewsus http://www.twitter.com/TomoNewsUS
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+TomoNewsUS/
Instagram @tomonewsus http://instagram.com/tomonewsus