DA: No charges after Ambridge officer shoots, kills lost dog

AMBRIDGE, Pa. (KDKA) -- No one will be charged after Ambridge officers shot and killed a lost dog in the station parking lot last week, the Beaver County district attorney announced on Friday. 

Police had turned over video evidence, witness statements and reports from officers to the district attorney's office earlier this week. Based off the video, the district attorney said there will be no charges. 

Ambridge police faced backlash after officers said the pit bull mastiff mix became aggressive, bit an officer and "somehow" escaped the kennel. Police said when the dog charged and lunged at one of the officers, he had "no choice" but to shoot the dog.

Police said they thought the dog was dead and used cardboard to cover her, but they later realized she was still breathing and they had to shoot her again to put her down. 

District Attorney David Lozier said he didn't find anything criminal happened outside the Ambridge municipal building after reviewing witness statements, police reports, social media and surveillance video.

"The officer did nothing wrong," Lozier said. "There's no question based on the video, and the reports of witnesses, and reports of the police that the dog became aggressive, and the officer had no choice."

Last Friday morning, leading up to the incident, a woman found the female mastiff in the area of 23rd and Lenz, snapping photos of it licking her, before calling police to pick it up.

It had no tags, leash, chip or license. Police shared a since-deleted lost dog post on Facebook with photos of it going for a ride along.

Lozier said eventually they brought it to the kennel behind the department. When they went to take it to the humane society, they acted as a witness calls it "nonchalantly," so as not to frighten the animal.

"The dog snapped at the officer, went after his hand, the officer backed up, and the dog went after him and bit his knee," Lozier said.

Officers tried again, bringing a dog pole with them, but Lozier said the dog retreated to the back of the kennel. They let the dog calm down with treats and water, before finding the dog escaped. It then went back inside itself, but as an officer closed the door, the dog charged out of the kennel.

"You can very, very clearly see on the video that the officer is backpedaling as fast as he can to avoid being bitten by the dog," Lozier said.

It's when the officer shoots the dog.

"This is a big dog. He could have ended up being very seriously injured," Lozier said.

After consulting vets and the humane society, they came to the decision to shoot it again to put it down.

"They were told by several sources to euthanize the dog," Lozier said.

Lozier calls it an unfortunate incident.

"We all love dogs. I've got two big dogs. Both officers involved have dogs," Lozier said.

When it comes down to it, he feels there's a bigger concern at play.

"Who let a 100-pound mastiff who would appear malnourished run around Ambridge with a leash? The dog clearly had just given birth. There was no license. It hadn't been receiving proper medical care. Where's the owner?" Lozier said.

To date, no owner has come forward to claim the dog. KDKA-TV reached out to police for comment but didn't hear back by airtime.