CALIFORNIA -- A Huntington Beach police officer shot and killed a pit bull, saying the dog attacked an officer when police entered a mobile home through an open window to investigate complaints of squatters.
The owner of the mobile home says the officers unlawfully entered his home and that the dog was protecting his territory.
"They went inside the house, and they shouldn't have been in there," said Bob Conger. "They shot and killed the dog."
Conger said his 24-year-old son was living in the mobile home and neighbors were aware he was staying there with his pit-bull mix.
Two officers, one sergeant and an investigator from the City Attorney's Office went to the city-owned Ocean View Estates Mobile Home Park about 10:30 a.m. Thursday after receiving complaints about squatters occupying an abandoned mobile home, Huntington Beach Lt. Russell Reinhart said.
When they arrived, they knocked on the doors and the windows. Reinhart said they didn't get a response, and officers found an open window and went into the mobile home.
"The trailer was supposed to be abandoned," he said.
Reinhart said the pit bull attacked one of the officers and tried to bite him. Another officer shot the dog three times. Orange County Animal Control picked up the dog, Reinhart said.
Conger said that his son had to clean up the blood stain and that their family is saddened by the loss of the pet.
"My son is completely distraught," he said. "We're at a loss."
Casey Conger, Bob Conger's son, was detained but not arrested. Casey Conger was not immediately available for comment on this story.
Bob Conger said his son was given a different explanation for why the officers were in his mobile home.
"The city investigator told him they were there because of the rent being late, and it was possibly being abandoned," Conger said.
Conger said he was about nine days late on his rent but had been late before so he didn't think it would be a problem. He also said he had visited the home before and after Thanksgiving and that his neighbors were aware Casey Conger was living there.
"There is no way in the world the home looks abandoned," Conger said. "There is no way in the world any neighbors complained."
Reinhart said the city received various complaints about the mobile home including squatters living in the area and reports of drug use and someone possessing a gun.
Officers accompanied the city employee because if it was found there were squatters on site it would become a criminal matter and police would have to get involved, Reinhart said.
He added police would not investigate complaints of late rent.
Reinhart also said police had received complaints about Conger's dog in the past.
"(Conger) had been arrested by Fountain Valley police (in the past) ... and when that occurred, his dog attacked a Fountain Valley officer. There have been numerous complaints about this dog. It's vicious.
Conger said the dog was protecting his owner from what he perceived as intruders.
"I live in a neighborhood where that dog would be a hero," he said.
Conger said he filed a formal complaint with the Huntington Beach Police Department. Conger, who lives in Sacramento, said the officers should have not entered his home unless they had a warrant.
Police are investigating this incident.
(OC Register - Dec 9, 2011)
