The New York Daily News reported on October 9 that a policeman allegedly abused his power when he shot a family dog in an apartment building in the Bronx.
Source: Daily News
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) reported charges pressed against Officer Ruben Cuesta, saying he abused his authority when he shot 4-year-old Pit bull, Spike, in the head.
Source: Daily News
The officer and his partner were in the building investigating an alert about domestic violence on February 13 when the dog came out into the hallway, approaching the officer while wagging his tail. CCTV footage shows the cop backing away and then shooting the Pit bull in his head from a mere 3 feet away.
Source: Daily News
Cuesta has been charged with abuse of authority and the CCRB has recommended he be retrained. Today, heremains on active duty while the investigation is pending.Rosado, the Pit bull's human, hired an attorney to file a lawsuit against Cuesta, and this charge is also pending. Former NYPD Commissioner, Bill Bratton, said:
In this instance, he (the officer) used the firearm, so now, as part of the investigation, he’ll have to justify what was going through his mind at that particular time.
Source: Daily News
Rosado spoke to Daily News in March, saying:
The officer just reacted badly. I was screaming, ‘He’s friendly! He’s friendly!’ But he still did that to my dog. (Spike) was like a big Snuffleupagus — a gentle giant. He was a member of the family ... He would wag his tail, letting everyone know he was friendly.
Source: Daily News
According to Rosado, the police had givenher neither an explanation nor an apology at the time of the interview in March. Cuesta was apparently taken to hospital to be treated for tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ears, while the Rosado family and the neighbors will betraumatized for life.
Source: Daily News
The video shows Rosado coming out of the apartment in her undergarments and slipping down the stairs as she chased after Cuesta, as Spike's blood was all over the staircase.
Source: Daily News
New York Police Department policy allows cops to shoot at animals only in the event that their lives are threatened, or as a last resort to stop an attack. It's abundantly clear from the video footage that Spike was not about to attack Cuesta. His friendly, slow walk and the wagging of his tail indicate that the Pit bull was happy and relaxed.Rosado concluded:
Spike died wagging his tail.
Watch the full video below.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnGRv_tkQ3k[/embed]
H/t: NY Daily News
.png)
