A Maple Heights police officer shot a family's pit bull named Chino at a home on Camden Road this past Thursday, sending the local community into a contentious debate over the events that led up to the violent encounter, with the dog now fighting for its life at a veterinary hospital, emotions are running high. The department stated it responded to a report of an aggressive dog threatening a woman and her daughter. In contrast, the dog's owner, Marquita Watford, insists her pet has never shown aggression and alleges ongoing hostility from her neighbor, as reported by cleveland.com and an emotionally charged interview captured by Cleveland19.
According to the Maple Heights Police Department's release, a resident had called the police after being allegedly menaced by the dog. The department had received prior complaints about the dog's behavior, although Watford asserts her dog, which she has not owned for a full year, was only outside momentarily. She had been showering when she heard knocking and, subsequently, the sound of gunshots; Chino, after being shot multiple times, managed to retreat inside the home, as per WKYC.
Watford describes the horrific aftermath where "Chino come zooming in before I could step my foot in the kitchen and it’s just blood everywhere," and her confrontation with police by saying, "They just walking around, mam this is a crime scene," her recollections and the shooting captured, albeit partly, on surveillance video that was reported by Cleveland 19.
The family is seeking assistance through a GoFundMe campaign to fund Chino's surgery, expressing hopes to keep the dog alive "for hours this dog has been hanging in there for us to try and get the money," Watford's sister explained, while they also demand accountability for the officer involved, with Watford's sister stating, "I hope that police officer loses his job," reflecting their distress and desire for justice in a statement given to Cleveland19.
The incident, which remains under investigation by the Maple Heights detectives, could potentially prompt charges related to the dog being loose. Yet, neither previous complaints nor current investigations provide immediate solace to the bereaved family at the center of this all-too-familiar conflict between law enforcement and pet owners.
