Disturbing surveillance footage captured the moment an Iowa cop shot and killed a family’s dog in front of two traumatized young children. The officer, Ethan Bock of the Davenport Police Department, opened fire on the two-year-old dog named Myst after responding to a 911 call about four aggressive canines in the area. The footage shows the officer approaching the children and their dog, instructing them to take the dog inside and get a leash. When Myst ran up to the officer barking, he drew his gun and shot the dog, causing chaos and distress for the family.
The dog’s owner, Don Hesseltine, expressed outrage over the incident, stating that the children and their mother could have easily been shot as well. The children are heard screaming and sobbing as they witness their pet being shot and killed in front of them. Myst writhed in pain for several seconds before dying just a few steps from the porch. The video of the incident quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage in the local community and leading to calls for the officer to be fired. A Change.org petition calling for accountability has garnered over 4,000 signatures.
The Davenport Police Department defended Officer Bock’s actions, stating that he only fired his weapon when the dog became aggressive. The department reported that the officer was responding to a call about four dogs at large and aggressive in the area. In a statement, the department explained that the dog had run towards the officer in an aggressive manner, prompting him to discharge his firearm. The incident occurred just weeks after Officer Bock was accused of striking another dog with his police cruiser in a separate incident.
In the previous incident, C’edward Spears claimed that he warned Officer Bock about his unleashed dog just moments before the animal was struck by the officer’s cruiser. Bodycam footage showed the officer approaching the lifeless dog and expressing frustration before calling for assistance. The Davenport Police Department did not respond to inquiries about either incident. The community expressed outrage over both incidents, with many demanding accountability for the officer’s actions. The situations involving the officer and the shootings of dogs have raised concerns about police conduct and use of force in the community.
