By Police1 Staff
MINNEAPOLIS — An investigation has been opened after an officer shot two dogs inside a homeowner’s fenced-in yard on Saturday.
According to the Star Tribune, Jennifer LeMay’s two daughters left a family camping trip early and accidentally triggered the house alarm upon returning home. LeMay said she called her security company and deactivated the alarm.
A short while later, two officers responded. LeMay said neither officer knocked on the front door, but one hopped the backyard fence.
Surveillance video shows the officer standing in the backyard with his gun drawn. The dogs can be seen walking toward the officer, but they stop around 10 feet away, the publication reported.
The officer fired at one dog, who fell and ran away. Another dog approached the officer and was shot several times. The officer then left the yard by climbing over the fence.
Both dogs went to the emergency vet Saturday night where they were treated for their wounds. One dog requires further surgery. The family alleges they didn’t immediately take the dogs to the vet because police said animal control was coming to provide aid. LeMay said no one showed.
LeMay said her dogs were “doing their job on my property. We have a right to be safe in our yard.”
The police report stated “two large size pitbulls charged at the officer” while police were staging at the rear.
The police department said they cannot comment because of the ongoing investigation, but Lt. Derrick Barnes came to the LeMay’s home Sunday night to speak with the family.
He was “as genuine and compassionate as he could be, without overstepping his boundaries,” LeMay said.