The Sulphur Police officer who shot and killed a dog that he maintained attacked him in an incident in the Southwest Daily News parking lot on the morning of April 28 has resigned, according to SPD Chief Lewis Coats.

The Sulphur Police officer who shot and killed a dog that he maintained attacked him in an incident in the Southwest Daily News parking lot on the morning of April 28 has resigned, according to SPD Chief Lewis Coats. In a news release on Thursday, Chief Coats also stated that the SPD-Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office joint internal investigation into the shooting has found that the officer, Brian Thierbach, "violated the Sulphur Police Department's Departmental Policy and Procedure regarding use of force and personal conduct and behavior." Thierbach's resignation on May 7 came prior to final disciplinary action being taken.

It was on the morning of April 28 that two men, Brandon Carpenter, 28, and Logan Laliberte, 21, both transients from Maine, were arrested and charged with vehicular trespassing in the back parking lot of the Southwest Daily News' office. The two had reportedly opened and got into the back of one of the newspaper’s box trucks in order, they said, to get out of the rain. The men were also traveling with Carpenter’s Newfoundland Labrador mix, a dog named Arzy Kenzington. It was when Thierbach proceeded to do a follow-up at the scene that the officer alleged the dog attacked him, biting him on his shoe. Thierbach then shot and killed the dog, who was reportedly leashed and tied up at the time.

A witness at the scene, Eric Midkiff, Southwest Daily News' Circulations Manager, contends that the dog never attacked the officer, saying in his official statement that the officer asked the men if the dog would bite and they told him that it would not. He also stated that he saw the dog wagging his tail and acting in a friendly manner and that it was when the dog bumped against Thierbach that the officer responded by shooting the animal.

In his news release on Thursday, Chief Coats commented on Thierbach's actions.

“I am a dog lover and I am deeply saddened by this incident," said Coats, "I realize there is nothing I can say that would take away the hurt this incident has caused Mr. Brandon Carpenter. The actions of Officer Thierbach did not represent what I expect from the officers of the Sulphur Police Department. Those of us who serve as law enforcement officers do so with the responsibility of serving and protecting the community as professionals. The resignation of Officer Thierbach was accepted so that the officers and community can heal and move forward.”

Carpenter's attorney, Alyson Antoon, spoke on behalf of her client to Southwest Daily News about the investigation.

"We are extremely pleased with the findings of the internal investigation. They did what they needed to do and did so quickly. We believe they came to the right conclusion," she stated.

According to Chief Coats, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is conducting a criminal investigation into the matter. Antoon commented on that as well.

"Based off of what information we have gathered, we believe that a crime has been committed," she said, "We will see what [the CPSO's] findings are and then decide on where we will go next."

Antoon continued saying, "We want to thank everyone in the community and nationally for their support. We ask that everyone keep the support going strong as we move forward."





