Deputy forced to shoot charging Pit Bull

Date: 5/9/2012

Deputy forced to shoot charging Pit Bull MEDIA RELEASE
Deputy forced to shoot charging Pit Bull
Juniper Ridge Property, NE Bend, Oregon
BY: Lieutenant Chad Davis


NARRATIVE:

On 5/9/12 at 9:19 a.m., Deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were flagged down by a citizen and notified of a large transient camp in unimproved property in northeast Bend. This area was later determined to be in the Juniper Ridge Development, which is owned by the city of Bend.

Deputies responded to the area on foot and located the camp. Upon locating the camp, Deputies saw dogs at the camp. Deputies moved to a different location and then loudly announced to the occupants of the encampment to secure their dogs.

Three dogs then came from around the tents and charged toward the Deputies. All three dogs were in the same pack as they neared the Deputies. The Deputies yelled to the occupants to control their dogs as the Deputies attempted to retreat.

Once it became clear the occupants were unable to call off the dogs and the dogs continued to charge, a Deputy fired two rounds from his service pistol at the closest dog, which was a Pit Bull. One round struck the Pit Bull and it veered away from the Deputies. The dog ran about 100 feet from where it had been shot and died. The second round struck the dirt.

One other Pit Bull continued to circle the Deputies until its owner secured the dog. Several occupants of the encampment were identified and the owners of the Pit Bull were contacted and interviewed.

Based upon the circumstances, the Deputy was forced to protect himself and his fellow Deputy from being attacked by an aggressive and unsecured dog. Deputies are authorized to use a reasonable amount of force, up to an including Deadly force, to protect themselves or others when confronted with these types of situations.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Oregon State Police and the Bend Police Department.

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