Pennsylvania: Man insists his 100-lb pit bull, shot by police, wasn't aggressive

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Jeannette man says he wants answers after claiming that police shot and killed his pit bull Diesel.

“My dogs, they’re not bad dogs. They’re never aggressive…they’re playful,” Jay Smith said.

 

Witnesses and police tell another side to the story.

Police reports say Diesel was running loose with another dog, and suddenly went after the owner of a nearby auto repair shop.


According to the dog's owner, the owner of the repair shot had to run from the dogs, only escaping when he managed to get inside his house and slam the door shut.

 

His dog escaped through a hole in his fencing

Officer John Ryan was called to the scene, and he says as he was stepping out of his cruiser, the dog ran straight towards him.

Smith doesn’t buy it.

“They told me he pulled up and my dog ran up to him growling so he shot him. I wish I could of had some video tape, anything…I don’t believe what’s being claimed about my dog,” he said.

The dog ran to this repair shop

Police say there is surveillance video of the incident.

The department says that deadly force was justified because the officer tried to get the 100 lb. dog to stop by yelling at it and honking the car horn.

(KDKA - Jan 18, 2016)