“You’re damn right I shot your dog”
An off-duty Buncombe County sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed a border collie mix at North Carolina’s Catawba Falls says he did so to protect his children from what appeared to be an aggressive dog.
“You’re damn right I shot your dog,” he reportedly told the dog’s owner, Scott Shulman of Durham.
Shulman, who was hiking with his son, said his three dogs got ahead of them when he fell into the water.
By the time he caught up, he saw Deputy Jason Honeycutt pointing a gun at one of his dogs, a 45-pound border collie mix named Nellie, who he says was barking and wagging her tail.
“I hear two or three pops, and I see Nellie roll over and hit the ground,” Shulman said. “I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what I saw. I just said, ‘Did you shoot my dog?’ He said something like, ‘you’re damn right I shot your dog.’”
Shulman told the Asheville Citizen-Times that his dog was not posing a threat to the officer or his children, and that he thought shooting the dog was “disproportionate and excessive.”
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office has investigated the case, and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office conducted an internal probe, but no charges or disciplinary action were recommended against the deputy.
“We don’t have any issue with what our officer did,” said Lt. Randy Sorrells of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department. “He was protecting his children.”
A McDowell County incident report that lists Deputy Honeycutt as the victim states the dog appeared to be aggressive toward children.
Shulman disagrees, and says two witnesses to the shooting also believe Nellie, while barking, wasn’t behaving aggressively otherwise.
“My main concern is making the citizens aware that this incident occurred … I don’t want anybody else to have to experience something like this.”
(Photo: Asheville Citizen-Times)
Posted by jwoestendiek February 26th, 2013 under Muttsblog.
Tags: aggressive, animals, barking, border collie, buncombe county, catawba falls, children, deputy, disproportionate, dog, dogs, durham, excessive, hiking, jason honeycutt, kills, mcdowell county, mix, mountains, nellie, north carolina, off duty, pets, protecting, scott shulman, sheriff, shoots, tail, wagging
Comments
Comment from JJ
Time February 26, 2013 at 1:05 pm
I used to think cops were there to protect society. They have become a menace and a threat to the citizens they have sworn to protect.
Comment from Kimberley George
Time February 26, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Just because your a cop, DOESN’T give you the right to be a bully, you’ll meet your match one day; guarantee it if for nothing else for shooting a great dog!! Just think of what you showed your kids???
Comment from KateH
Time February 26, 2013 at 5:31 pm
I hope the mother of his children know what a hot-headed freak their father is, and perhaps she’ll consider that he’s a trigger-happy person who she might not want around her kids.
Comment from Tina
Time February 27, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Please understand that the ACT did not print the full story. THey printed the owners side and a slanted version at that. I am truely sorry that this owners animal was shot but, as someone who knows this deputy (and his kids and FOUR DOGS) he loves his animals but his kids more. There is more than was printed, while I understand the anger as the story is printed…it is not complete or accurate. This man protected his children and as a last resort one of the animals had to die. It is sad, but even more sad that people jump to the absolute worst conclusion without knowing all of the facts. I feel for all involved.
Comment from Austin
Time February 27, 2013 at 7:18 pm
He should get charged with a felony and 5 years in prison.
Comment from KateH
Time February 28, 2013 at 10:51 am
Walking away with his children would have protected them just fine. He shot a defenseless dog that he says was growling at him – ooooo, so scary – he’s a hot head with a gun and I worry more about other people and other people’s pets now that I know he shoots first and thinks later.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time February 26, 2013 at 8:19 am
See all of my previous (too many) “cop shoots dog” comments. This is sadly becoming almost an everyday occurrence. Maybe the dog was right to bark at this BOZO. Take the damn gun away and suspend this jerk immediately.