Arkansas, Faulkner County Deputy Keenan Wallace fired after shooing Chihuahua dog in the face in excessive use of force.
An Arkansas sheriff’s deputy has been fired after he being caught on video shooting a small dog while on duty.
Faulkner County Deputy Keenan Wallace, a K9 handler was ‘relieved of his duties’ after footage showed the US Sheriff’s deputy shooting a small Chihuahua in the face while responding to a call of an aggressive dog.
Wallace arrived at the home in Conway to find two small dogs on the front lawn. Video recorded by the dog’s owner Doug Canady, shows Wallace approaching the home while the dogs barked.
Wallace asks Canady, to come to the road to speak with him. When Canady refuses, the deputy begins walking to him as the dog begins barking
Wallace can be heard threatening to shoot one of the dogs if it became too aggressive. Video shows that he did just that 20 seconds later- with the dog hit and wildly squealing.
‘Are you f*****g kidding me?’ Canady shouts. ‘You’re f*****g kidding me.’
‘I told you,’ Wallace responded as he approached Canady with a taser in hand.
Officer in Conway AR shot a innocent dog on private property without a warrant! just a stray dog wanting attention and barking like any other didn’t even kill the dog just left it to suffer. Total bullshit. Prayers to the owner who just lost their dog:( pic.twitter.com/lXYKk06ehG
— Catie (@catiejwoodson) January 5, 2019
Canady and Wallace can be heard getting into an argument, while the dog which somehow managed to survive is noticeably shaken in the background.
‘I’m recording you right now. I just recorded you shooting that dog in front of me putting me in danger.’ The deputy replied with, ‘no, I didn’t, the shot hit the dog, what I aimed at.’
‘I’m scared at this point. I want to go in my house. You just fired a weapon in my direction and poor defenseless dog. What’s wrong with you,’ Canady reiterated.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported the shooting leaving the Chihuahua with a gun shot wound in the face and a broken jaw.
Canady took the pup to a local veterinarian where Reeses is in stable condition.
Canady revealed rescued Reese after moving to the Shiloh Estates area three years ago.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the dog which has raised just under $14K.
‘My heart broke when he shot her. What did that poor dog do?’ Canady said told FOX16. ‘That’s a tough little dog.’
Adding, ‘Why is he on the streets. How unstable do you have to be to shot a little dog?’.
Sheriff Tim Ryals said in a statement Saturday that Wallace had been relieved of his duties at the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office.
‘I believe there were numerous opportunities to de-escalate the incident,’ he wrote.
‘Our Department is sadden about this incident and apologize for any distress and disappointment this incident has caused anyone who was affected by this disheartening event,’ he added. ‘We will keep Reeses in our thoughts through the recovery process.’
This is Reese’s the Poor dog that was shot. pic.twitter.com/YpRg0HJt2c
— Catie (@catiejwoodson) January 5, 2019