Post by Ivory Fair on Jan 4, 2003 0:46:01 GMT -5
Well, this is not exactly "Driving While Black," but it's just as bad ......... just saw this on my local news and it's made me sick at my stomach. 
Family Dog Shot by Police During Traffic Stop
Reporter: Brent Frazier
A Cookeville police officer is under investigation after shooting a family dog during a roadside traffic stop.
The Smoak family of North Carolina will never forget their vacation in Middle Tennessee. They were leaving town new year's day. The family was pulled over by police, handcuffed, and forced to watch the shooting death of their dog.
Along a lonely stretch of I-40 in Putnam County, James Smoak; his son, Brandon; and his wife, Pamela, were the subject of a felony stop.
"A felony stop is the worst kind of stop that can be made, and we were on vacation, lost our wallet. And that's the way they helped us, by arresting us," Pamela said.
James Smoak claimed the traffic stop was over his wallet. While gassing up in Davidson County, he inadvertently left the wallet on the roof of his car and drove away.
Someone on the road, according to the Smoaks, phoned police, claiming the couple had just robbed someone. THP stopped the family at the 287 exit. Cookeville police were dispatched to help. James Smoak claims he was treated like a common criminal.
"I actually was close to an officer was when my head was on the ground and he cuffed me. And I never had my rights read to me or anything. They just threw me in the back of the car," James said.
Mrs. Smoak and the couple's 17-year-old son were also cuffed.
The family claimed their car doors were left open right on I-40. When one of their two pet bulldogs climbed out and headed toward police, a Cookeville officer shot the dog to death.
That officer is Eric Hall, a reputable policeman, according to his comrades, who feels awful about what happened.
"My understanding is it was a pit bull dog. Eric believed that he was being attacked by the dog and that was his only recourse," said Capt. Nathan Honeycutt.
Cookeville police have launched a full blown investigation.
"I would say it's not embarrassing in the least. It's extremely unfortunate. We hate that this situation happened," said Cookeville Vce Mayor Steve Qualls.
But no one feels worse than the Smoaks, who Friday buried one of their loved ones, vowing never to return to Middle Tennessee.
The Smoaks said their dog is a type of bulldog, but not a pit bull. THP, which initiated the traffic stop, is also investigating, but because of the sensitive nature of the case, there is not a lot police can say. So, a lot of this is based on the Smoaks' account of what happened.
THP said it was all captured on video tape, which will become an integral part of this investigation.
News 2 at 6
01.03.03
I know the police spend most of their time serving and protecting, and I realize everyone makes mistakes. But SHOOTING the dog? There is NO excuse for that and I hope they send this cop down the river!!!!
Ivory is suddenly thankful that kitty cats don't rush strangers.
Family Dog Shot by Police During Traffic Stop
Reporter: Brent Frazier
A Cookeville police officer is under investigation after shooting a family dog during a roadside traffic stop.
The Smoak family of North Carolina will never forget their vacation in Middle Tennessee. They were leaving town new year's day. The family was pulled over by police, handcuffed, and forced to watch the shooting death of their dog.
Along a lonely stretch of I-40 in Putnam County, James Smoak; his son, Brandon; and his wife, Pamela, were the subject of a felony stop.
"A felony stop is the worst kind of stop that can be made, and we were on vacation, lost our wallet. And that's the way they helped us, by arresting us," Pamela said.
James Smoak claimed the traffic stop was over his wallet. While gassing up in Davidson County, he inadvertently left the wallet on the roof of his car and drove away.
Someone on the road, according to the Smoaks, phoned police, claiming the couple had just robbed someone. THP stopped the family at the 287 exit. Cookeville police were dispatched to help. James Smoak claims he was treated like a common criminal.
"I actually was close to an officer was when my head was on the ground and he cuffed me. And I never had my rights read to me or anything. They just threw me in the back of the car," James said.
Mrs. Smoak and the couple's 17-year-old son were also cuffed.
The family claimed their car doors were left open right on I-40. When one of their two pet bulldogs climbed out and headed toward police, a Cookeville officer shot the dog to death.
That officer is Eric Hall, a reputable policeman, according to his comrades, who feels awful about what happened.
"My understanding is it was a pit bull dog. Eric believed that he was being attacked by the dog and that was his only recourse," said Capt. Nathan Honeycutt.
Cookeville police have launched a full blown investigation.
"I would say it's not embarrassing in the least. It's extremely unfortunate. We hate that this situation happened," said Cookeville Vce Mayor Steve Qualls.
But no one feels worse than the Smoaks, who Friday buried one of their loved ones, vowing never to return to Middle Tennessee.
The Smoaks said their dog is a type of bulldog, but not a pit bull. THP, which initiated the traffic stop, is also investigating, but because of the sensitive nature of the case, there is not a lot police can say. So, a lot of this is based on the Smoaks' account of what happened.
THP said it was all captured on video tape, which will become an integral part of this investigation.
News 2 at 6
01.03.03
I know the police spend most of their time serving and protecting, and I realize everyone makes mistakes. But SHOOTING the dog? There is NO excuse for that and I hope they send this cop down the river!!!!
Ivory is suddenly thankful that kitty cats don't rush strangers.
. Po dog
