'They just had no remorse': Lawsuit accuses cops of illegally entering home and shooting dog
Four Maryland residents are suing the Prince George's County Police Department for allegedly entering their home illegally, unlawfully detaining them, and shooting their dog.
According to Reason, Plaintiffs Erika Sanchez, Erica Umani, Dayri Benitez and Brandon Cuevas are seeking $16 million in damages in a federal civil rights lawsuit that alleges they were wrongly subjected to excessive force, unlawful search and seizure and false arrest.
"This case is an outrage. It is disgusting, disgraceful, and despicable," attorney William Murphy said in a press release. "These officers outright abused and mistreated our clients, lied to unlawfully break into their house, manhandled them illegally, and shot their dog. And in utter disregard for the severity of their intolerable behavior, they laughed about it."
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The lawsuit stems from a 2021 incident in which officers were responding to a 911 call at an apartment complex in which a resident said two dogs jumped on her and bit her. Plaintiffs said officers approached Sanchez when she was outside of her apartment and started asking her questions.
When she refused to answer and went inside of her apartment, the officers — who did not have a search warrant — obtained a master key from the property manager and allegedly entered despite objections from the plaintiffs. One of the officers initially blocked Sanchez and Umana from entering the apartment once they saw them walk through the door. When they pushed past the officer, other officers tackled and restrained the two women, and reportedly threatened to use their taser.
At that point, one of the officers saw Umana's dog, a boxer mix named Hennessy, run towards Umana. Officers shouted "get the dog, get the dog," prompting two to shoot Hennessy and a third to tase the dog. When Umana cradled the dog in her arms, officers commanded her to step away or else she would be tasered. At that point, plaintiffs allege that Prince George's County Cpl. Jason Ball said "that's what happens when you don't answer questions."
"I was just begging them, begging them," Umana told the Washington Post in 2021. "They just had no remorse."
Umana reportedly took Hennessy to the veterinarian after the incident, and while the dog was still alive, it was paralyzed. Umana chose to euthanize the dog.
In announcing the lawsuit on Monday, the plaintiffs were joined at a press conference by members of the NAACP, the ACLU of Maryland and other community groups that alleged the 2021 incident was part of a pattern of abusive behavior by the Prince George's County Police Department.
"Without a badge, these officers would be trespassers. Without a badge these officers would be called burglars. Without a badge, these officers would be called assailants," Maryland NAACP attorney NaShona Kess said. "With a badge and without a warrant they are trespassers. With a badge and without a warrant they are burglars and assailants."
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