Louisiana: No-contest plea from former Sulphur police officer Brian L. Thierbach in 2014 dog shooting

LOUISIANA -- Former Sulphur police officer Brian L. Thierbach, who shot and killed a dog in April 2014, pleaded no contest Thursday to a charge of simple cruelty to animals in state district court.

Thierbach responded to a call about two men in the parking lot of the Southwest Daily News on April 28, 2014. The dog’s owner, Brandon Carpenter, and Logan Laliberte, both of Maine, were staying out of the rain in a nearby truck.

 

Thierbach said he shot the dog after it tried to bite him, but Carpenter and Laliberte said the dog was not aggressive and that the shooting was unwarranted. Thierbach resigned in May 2014 after an investigation found he violated department policy.

Southwest Daily News circulation manager Eric Midkiff, who witnessed the shooting, told authorities that the dog did not attack Thierbach.

 

The shooting gained national attention when The Huffington Post featured an article about it in May 2014. In it, Carpenter said the dog, Arzy, had never acted aggressively toward anyone.

 

Thierbach will be sentenced May 26.

(American Press - April 29, 2016)

Earlier:

• Former Sulphur officer indicted on charge of animal cruelty