Rochester Police Shoot Disabled Man's Dog, Then Arrest Him Twice in the Days After

Really, about as bad as it gets

For the last couple of years, Floyd James Jr. and his 9-year-old Belgian Shepherd, Cinnamon, shared a small house on Flora Street.

That ended last month when Rochester police shot and killed Cinnamon, touching off a series of interactions with police that left James searching for explanations.

James was arrested twice in the days after the July 11 shooting. The first arrest came when he was accused of not controlling Cinnamon, who police said appeared dangerous.

The second arrest came days later, after police received threatening 911 calls from an untraceable cell phone — calls that police now acknowledge had no connection to James.

James, an Army veteran, retired carpenter and an former Monroe County Legislature candidate in 2001, said Cinnamon was a sweet dog, given to him by his daughter-in-law as a companion animal. Diabetes has reduced the 53-year-old's use of his hands and decreased his vision.