February 21, 2007, 5:51 PM CST
A Chicago man who says police shot and killed his dog last year while chasing a fleeing suspect filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city and two police officers.Calvin Hale, 68, alleges he was in his backyard when a police officer ran into the yard and stumbled on his 10-year-old Akita, Lady.
"The next I know, I heard a shot, and she started to holler," Hale said Wednesday. " I told [the police officer] 'You shot my dog,' and he just kept running."
The incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2006, Hale said.Hale said his dog had no history of biting or bad behavior. The lawsuit filed in Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court seeks unspecified damages of more than $50,000. City officials offered to pay Hale for the dog, but could not reach an agreement on the amount, Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said. She declined to comment on the lawsuit. Hale's attorney, Amy Breyer of Chicago, is one of a small number of lawyers who specialize in animal-related cases and sometimes seek to expand the reach of animal law.Breyer said police could not shoot a child in the yard without justification, and "my feeling is it's not acceptable with non-human family members" either.
Article by Michael J. Higgins, Chicago Tribune staff reporter
A Chicago man who says police shot and killed his dog last year while chasing a fleeing suspect filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city and two police officers.Calvin Hale, 68, alleges he was in his backyard when a police officer ran into the yard and stumbled on his 10-year-old Akita, Lady.
"The next I know, I heard a shot, and she started to holler," Hale said Wednesday. " I told [the police officer] 'You shot my dog,' and he just kept running."
The incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2006, Hale said.Hale said his dog had no history of biting or bad behavior. The lawsuit filed in Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court seeks unspecified damages of more than $50,000. City officials offered to pay Hale for the dog, but could not reach an agreement on the amount, Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said. She declined to comment on the lawsuit. Hale's attorney, Amy Breyer of Chicago, is one of a small number of lawyers who specialize in animal-related cases and sometimes seek to expand the reach of animal law.Breyer said police could not shoot a child in the yard without justification, and "my feeling is it's not acceptable with non-human family members" either.
Article by Michael J. Higgins, Chicago Tribune staff reporter
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