Maybe Steven Seagal Actually is a Cop
Remember the more Joe Arpaio-y than usual SWAT raid on a supposed cockfighting ring back in March? Which inexplicably involved Steven Seagal and a tank? There are now allegations of puppycide.
According to Slate:
There's no suggestion that Seagal personally shot and killed the puppy, as some headlines have suggested. But [Jesus] Llovera, the cockfighting suspect, is suing him and the sheriff's office for $25,000 apiece, claiming the raid was a stunt designed "to make good TV for Steven Seagal."
TMZ.com adds:
[Llovera] claims his 11-month old puppy was shot and killed during the raid -- and his home sustained "substantial damage." He also claims the cops killed more than 100 roosters that belonged to him.
The notice of claim is the first step towards a lawsuit -- and [Llovera's] lawyer tells us his client is demanding $100,000 for the damage and he wants Seagal to issue a "formal written apology" to his children "for the death of their 11-month old puppy, a beloved family pet."
Radley Balko previously argued that the presence of cameras for the true-crime show First 48 may have influenced the tactics of SWAT in a raid that led to the death of a 7-year-old Detroit girl. A puppy death is obviously a much lesser tragedy, but Joe Arpaio doesn't need any additional help planning insane "tough on crime" publicity stunts.
