LAKEWOOD, Ohio -
From the corner of a cage at the Lakewood Animal Shelter the dog growls menacingly at anyone who approaches.
The muscular, mostly white animal has the appearance of a pit bull terrier, and according to employees at the shelter an unpredictable temper. It's the type of dog the City of Lakewood banished last year in a controversial breed specific law that targets unregistered pit bulls.
The dog was corralled by police near the intersection of Plover Avenue and Robin streets Saturday morning after several residents called 911 to report a stray that was roaming the streets barking and chasing people.
A police report says officers observed the animal running towards people "in an aggressive fashion," stopping approximately ten to fifteen feet from them each time.
Officer Terry Lowther was leaving a nearby resident on another call when he says he saw the dog. "I immediately drew my service pistol and pointed it at the animal," Lowther reports.
As nearby residents came out of their homes to see what was happening, they were ordered back inside by police.
"The animal continued to bark and growl at me," Lowther reports. He decided not to shoot concerned that any of the rounds might result in ricochets that could endanger others.
When the dog seemed to calm down the officer exchanged his gun for a Taser. A video camera mounted on the Taser shows the dog, which was not muzzled once again barking and growling at the officer. When the animal makes another aggressive move Lowther fired the Taser.
On the video the dog is heard to yelp as it drops to the ground. A second electronic burst was delivered through the Taser as animal control officers harnessed it.
Police say the dog belongs to Daniel Kier who they found asleep in his apartment near the intersection. Kier was not home on Monday when Fox 8 News attempted to talk with him about the incident.
Keir was cited by police for allowing his dog to wander without a leash, and for having an unregistered pit bull. In the official police report he is quoted as telling the officers "sh#@ happens" when he was asked about the dog. He also told police that he believed the animal was a boxer, not a pit bull.
Keir will have an opportunity to appeal the arrest. In the meantime Lakewood's law gives him no option other than to get rid of the animal unless he can successfully win in his appeal.
The muscular, mostly white animal has the appearance of a pit bull terrier, and according to employees at the shelter an unpredictable temper. It's the type of dog the City of Lakewood banished last year in a controversial breed specific law that targets unregistered pit bulls.
The dog was corralled by police near the intersection of Plover Avenue and Robin streets Saturday morning after several residents called 911 to report a stray that was roaming the streets barking and chasing people.
A police report says officers observed the animal running towards people "in an aggressive fashion," stopping approximately ten to fifteen feet from them each time.
Officer Terry Lowther was leaving a nearby resident on another call when he says he saw the dog. "I immediately drew my service pistol and pointed it at the animal," Lowther reports.
As nearby residents came out of their homes to see what was happening, they were ordered back inside by police.
"The animal continued to bark and growl at me," Lowther reports. He decided not to shoot concerned that any of the rounds might result in ricochets that could endanger others.
When the dog seemed to calm down the officer exchanged his gun for a Taser. A video camera mounted on the Taser shows the dog, which was not muzzled once again barking and growling at the officer. When the animal makes another aggressive move Lowther fired the Taser.
On the video the dog is heard to yelp as it drops to the ground. A second electronic burst was delivered through the Taser as animal control officers harnessed it.
Police say the dog belongs to Daniel Kier who they found asleep in his apartment near the intersection. Kier was not home on Monday when Fox 8 News attempted to talk with him about the incident.
Keir was cited by police for allowing his dog to wander without a leash, and for having an unregistered pit bull. In the official police report he is quoted as telling the officers "sh#@ happens" when he was asked about the dog. He also told police that he believed the animal was a boxer, not a pit bull.
Keir will have an opportunity to appeal the arrest. In the meantime Lakewood's law gives him no option other than to get rid of the animal unless he can successfully win in his appeal.
