Newark police intentionally hit two loose dogs with vehicles, then fatally shoot one of them

MAY 19 UPDATE: The German shepherd in this story has been caught.

Newark officers, who had been trying to capture two loose aggressive dogs for nearly 90 minutes, intentionally struck the dogs with their vehicles, then shot and killed one of them Friday, police said.

One of the dogs, a German shepherd, remains loose and may be aggressive, police said. It was reported in the area of Ogletown and Marrows roads at about 7:30 p.m. Friday. The dog killed was a pit bull.

The action drew condemnation from people who saw it and were angry that the dogs were hit and killed and that one officer did a thumbs-up after the dog died.

The incident followed at least two reports of dogs running loose near the Hudson State Service Center at 501 Ogletown Road.

Neither dog had a collar or tags, and they appeared to be abandoned, police said.

Officers tried to capture the loose dogs, which were aggressive and charged at them, police said. The dogs bared their teeth and were growling and foaming at the mouth, police said.

Aggression and foaming mouths can be signs of illness such as rabies, which can be deadly to humans as well as animals.

The dogs also chased passers-by on Ogletown Road and were aggressive toward people leaving the Hudson center, police said. The officers attracted the attention of the dogs back toward themselves to protect the public.

Ashton Cleveland, an employee at the Delaware SPCA, a pet adoption clinic, said her friend texted her about two strays, and the pair headed out with leashes to bring them to the pet shelter.

Cleveland said the dogs were not aggressive. She said her friend was able to pet one and get close to leashing one before an officer ran up and told them to stop.

"He told us we needed to stop, and they threatened arrest multiple times if we did anything," Cleveland said.

The two of them went in their car to watch from a distance. She said officers were at times yelling at the dogs and chasing them, and when more units arrived, they circled the dogs.

"The dogs started barking loudly, but they were just afraid for their lives," she said.

Officers called for animal control officers from the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare.

The office released a statement that three officers responded to assist.

For nearly 90 minutes, police said, the three animal control officers and more than a dozen Newark officers tried to capture the dogs using dog treats, catch poles and other nonlethal methods.

When the dogs couldn't be caught, police said, they and the animal control officers decided lethal force was warranted because the dogs were along busy Del. 273 (Ogletown Road), businesses were open on Ogletown Road, people were walking in the area and residential areas are nearby.

The police first hit the dogs with vehicles. The German shepherd ran away after being struck. The pit bull also ran away after being hit, but police fatally shot it.

Cleveland said there were multiple times police could have made better decisions Friday night.

"It escalated really quickly, and they could have been rescued. The fact that dogs were shot and run over is excessive and inhumane," she said.

Cleveland said she has filed a complaint against the officer who shot the dog, and the other who struck the dogs.

"It was awful. Me and my friend just broke down crying when we heard the gunshots," she said.

Police have not said whether they believe these dogs are the same dogs that have attacked and killed livestock in the Rising Sun and Elkton area of Maryland.

Cecil County Animal Services in Maryland announced on Sunday that those dogs were described as a German shepherd, a smaller dog reddish in color and a brown-and-white American pit bull terrier-type.

The Office of Animal Welfare and Newark police are still actively searching for the dog, the office said. No one should approach a stray or potentially aggressive animal but should call 911 or Delaware Animal Services at (302) 255-4646, the Office of Animal Welfare said.

The Newark police action has drawn fire from some Facebook users.

"That was completely disgusting and sad, seen one of your police officers run over a dog, the dog that my wife my brother and I were trying to catch without violence," Mateo Duque wrote. "That was animal cruelty with no reason and yes I will say police abuse with a poor dog."

Juan Sebastian Duque wrote: "complete disbelief of seeing one of your police officer run over AND I MEAN RUN OVER WITH A FULL SIZE SUV, a poor dog. Disgusting."

At least one person on Facebook showed support for the officers.

"We don’t know what made the police deem the dog dangerous. We as citizens expect to be innocent until proven guilty, yet we don’t give our police officers the same courtesy," Abbie Painter wrote.

This is not the first time police have targeted an animal with a vehicle. In March, two videos showed two upstate New York officers driving directly at a rabid raccoon in a shopping center parking lot. The county prosecutor announced last month that the officers wouldn't face animal cruelty charges for using their official vehicles to kill the animal.

Using the vehicles wasn't ideal, but it was the only option the officers had, Albany County District Attorney David Soares said. He said they lacked the proper equipment to deal with animals and it was too dangerous to shoot the raccoon in a busy shopping plaza

This story includes information from the Associated Press.

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Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @jopeterson93.