CALIFORNIA -- As an Animal Control Officer, Steve Peltier risks his life to keep the streets safe and save animals.
Partnering with a sheriff’s deputy on June 27, 2010, Peltier cornered an aggressive pit bull that had killed a Chihuahua.
The officers had Tasered the pit bull numerous times, but the 60-pounder kept running around near Mendocino Road in Adelanto.
The deputy drew his handgun, as he was out of Taser darts. And when the dog lunged at him, the deputy stumbled. Falling backwards, the deputy fired one round at the dog about 3-feet away, according to the District Attorney’s report released Thursday. The pit bull ran away again.
The deputy then heard Peltier yell, realizing the bullet had gone through the dog and grazed Peltier’s inner thigh.
“I heard a pop,” Peltier said. “I thought it was a Taser again, but when I reached down, I didn’t see a dart. I saw blood. That’s when it started to burn. I took a knee on the ground.”
The Deputy ran to the Animal Control Officer, but Peltier told the Deputy he was “fine” and to go get the dog, according to the DA’s report.
“I was more worried about people who might be around the dog,” Peltier said. “The Deputy and I were on the same page. We were more concerned about public safety than anything else.”
Peltier immediately got up and went to secure a German Shepherd they were also going after. Despite the injury, the 40-year-old took control of the German Shepherd and loaded it on the truck, while the deputy confirmed the death of the pit bull.
After taking photos of the scene, Peltier was transported to the hospital. He said the injury wasn’t serious.
The DA’s office concluded that the deputy’s shooting of the pit bull was self-defense and the injury to Peltier was an accident, according to the report.
(Daily Press - August 11, 2011)
