Family Sues Hammond, Police Officer Who Shot Their Dog
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A family that once lived in Hammond, Indiana, has filed suit against the city's police department, claiming an officer shot their family dog three times earlier this summer.
WBBM Newsradio's John Waelti reports Hammond police said, on June 9, officers responded to reports of a loose dog in the 6500 block of Jackson Avenue. Shortly after arriving, Hammond Officer Timothy Kreischer shot the dog in the face as the family looked on.
That's where accounts from police and the family differ. Police said the dog, Lilly, lunged at Kreischer.
Trent McCain, the attorney for plaintiffs Norma Maldonado and Dario Lemus, said that's nonsense. He said Lilly was barking and nothing more, and it was Kreischer who became aggressive.
"He unholstered his weapon, and shot up to three times, striking the dog in the mouth," he said.
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McCain said Lilly was only five to seven feet away from a 7-year-old child when the officer shot the dog.
"Dogs naturally will bark at a stranger, but the dog was down on the ground, next to a child, as opposed to lunging at the officer," McCain said. "We shudder to think what would have happened if Officer Kreischer missed the dog and shot my clients' 7-year-old son.
Lilly, an 18-month-old pit bull, survived the shooting, but not without complications.
"Lilly will certainly need a future surgery in order to repair the damage that was done to her sinus cavity. The 7-year-old boy naturally has been traumatized," McCain said.
He said the family has since left Hammond, after complaining of harassment.
