MedicalNeed
New Member
Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force agents, aided by a uniformed Willits police officer, serving a search warrant at 64 Franklin Avenue on July 27, shot and killed a family pet, an 8-year-old half-pit bull mix named Tonka.
When agents searched the home, they found nothing directly linking the residents to the arrest of Craig Anthony Gelber, the target of the search, according to MMCTF Commander Bob Nishiyama.
Nishiyama alleges Gelber sold chemicals used for the manufacture of *************** to undercover agents and had been observed at the 64 Franklin Avenue location with marijuana starts. That same day, search warrants were served at locations in Livermore and Covelo in the same case. In Covelo, officers found a 300-plus plant marijuana grow site. Gelber was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime.
"I know the officer felt terrible," says Nishiyama about the shooting. "You may have the nicest dog in the world, but we don't know it. Officers are authorized to defend themselves. We offered to take the dog and take care of it, but the family preferred to handle the arrangements themselves."
According to resident Anna White, Tonka's owner, the police shot her pet while it was in a fenced area on her front porch. "We found the shell casing outside by the fence area. Tonka then ran into our house, got onto my bed and died."
White described her bedroom following the search, claiming Tonka's body had been dumped from the bed onto the floor and items from her room dropped onto the body and into the dog's blood. "They destroyed our house and found nothing," says White. "Tonka lived long enough to die on my bed, which we shared each night."
Tonka was one of three dogs at the home. White's father was the only family member at home during the first part of the search. Her father got to the door after the shot had been fired, says White. The three dogs then ran into the home. Her father did not know at first Tonka had been shot since he was handcuffed and lying on the floor during the search.
Tonka was on the porch when officers approached the residence. According to Nishiyama, the homeowner was inside the home and the dog charged down the stairs, barking and snarling at the officer, who fired in self-defense. All three dogs then took off into the home.
White has filed a complaint against the Willits police officer who fired the fatal shot. Willits police Chief Gerry Gonzalez says he cannot comment on the incident until the complaint has been investigated.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: willitsnews.com
Author: Linda Williams/TWN Staff Writer
Contact: Aboutus - The Willits News
Copyright: 2010 - The Willits News
Website:Police kill family pet during search warrant, find nothing - The Willits News
When agents searched the home, they found nothing directly linking the residents to the arrest of Craig Anthony Gelber, the target of the search, according to MMCTF Commander Bob Nishiyama.
Nishiyama alleges Gelber sold chemicals used for the manufacture of *************** to undercover agents and had been observed at the 64 Franklin Avenue location with marijuana starts. That same day, search warrants were served at locations in Livermore and Covelo in the same case. In Covelo, officers found a 300-plus plant marijuana grow site. Gelber was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime.
"I know the officer felt terrible," says Nishiyama about the shooting. "You may have the nicest dog in the world, but we don't know it. Officers are authorized to defend themselves. We offered to take the dog and take care of it, but the family preferred to handle the arrangements themselves."
According to resident Anna White, Tonka's owner, the police shot her pet while it was in a fenced area on her front porch. "We found the shell casing outside by the fence area. Tonka then ran into our house, got onto my bed and died."
White described her bedroom following the search, claiming Tonka's body had been dumped from the bed onto the floor and items from her room dropped onto the body and into the dog's blood. "They destroyed our house and found nothing," says White. "Tonka lived long enough to die on my bed, which we shared each night."
Tonka was one of three dogs at the home. White's father was the only family member at home during the first part of the search. Her father got to the door after the shot had been fired, says White. The three dogs then ran into the home. Her father did not know at first Tonka had been shot since he was handcuffed and lying on the floor during the search.
Tonka was on the porch when officers approached the residence. According to Nishiyama, the homeowner was inside the home and the dog charged down the stairs, barking and snarling at the officer, who fired in self-defense. All three dogs then took off into the home.
White has filed a complaint against the Willits police officer who fired the fatal shot. Willits police Chief Gerry Gonzalez says he cannot comment on the incident until the complaint has been investigated.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: willitsnews.com
Author: Linda Williams/TWN Staff Writer
Contact: Aboutus - The Willits News
Copyright: 2010 - The Willits News
Website:Police kill family pet during search warrant, find nothing - The Willits News
