Brickbat: Well, They Didn't Shoot

The Houston police department has apologized to a family whose dog died after an officer forced the owner to leave it by the side of the road. Josie Garcia says her husband was giving a friend a ride when a cop stopped him for not using his turn signal. A search of their vehicle found prescription medication, which the Garcias say belonged to the passenger. But the cop arrested both men, had the vehicle towed and made them leave the family's nearly blind Chihuahua by the side of the road. Charges against Garcia's husband were later dropped, but by the time the family found their dog it had been struck and killed by a vehicle.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

"Let me give you a public apology right now on behalf of the city of Houston," Mayor Annise Parker said. "I don't know what airhead ? there's another word in my mind but I'm not going to say it ? would throw, you wouldn't put a kid on the side of the road. You shouldn't put someone's pet on the side of the road."

I'm guessing she does know what airhead did it, but union rules mean she can't give the name. Of course, Garcia's name gets put out there whether guilty or not.

[db]

Let's put it this way: either she knows the name, or she's seriously incompetent. If she does know it, she should state precisely what prevents her from saying it.

[Scarecrow Repair]

That comment was given at a council meeting where the victim brought the subject up. The mayor might well have never heard of the case until then. She certainly knows by now.

[db]

Take the offender, blindfolded, to a busy highway. Paint "ABANDONED A DOG" on him, front and back, and let him find his way home.

[invisible furry hand]

correct link

Can we also have some outrage about the fact the guy was arrested in the first place?

[Scruffy Nerfherder]

It's America, people get more upset about their pets getting harmed than they do about their kids.

[Swiss Servator, spare a franc?]

LBJ got more angry mail about holding up a dog by the ears than Vietnam.

[Suthenboy]

Protecting and serving....protecting and serving.

Prescription drugs. What does that mean? There is no elaboration.

[db]

They misspelled "moral panic."

[Suthenboy]

I am just wondering, did the guy have a labeled vial of insulin with his name and prescription number on it or 5 lbs of xanax in a brown paper bag?

Not that it has any bearing towards the sadistic treatment of the dog.

[UnCivilServant]

When I think 'perscription drugs' my mind goes back to the last set I had to take - which was generic prilosec. I know of no way you can get high on protein pump inhibitors. And, even if you could...

[Suthenboy]

Lots of cops don't give a shit about narcotics, or crime of any kind for that matter. They are only concerned with whether or not they have an excuse to kick people in the teeth.

[Rhywun]

"Houston voters get what they deserve."

[RishJoMo]

Sounds like some very serious business to me dude.

http://www.AnonWorld.tk

[Gene]

.The men were stopped by a Houston police officer for failing to use a turn signal, and a search of the vehicle turned up prescription medication, which Garcia said belonged to the passenger.

The officer took both men into custody.

Fuck me, police state or what?

[Rich]

failing to use a turn signal

Now, *there's* a revenue generator!

("Visualize World Peace Using Your Turn Signal")

[BilboTeabaggins]

I love Houston, but city government here is as fucked as in any other big city.

[Tommy_Grand]

I certainly have not found Houston to be any worse, police conduct wise, than the other biggest 5-6 US cities (by population).

[DrAwkward]

Image what other creative ways LEOs are dreaming up to kill our dogs without shooting them.

"After failing to come to a complete stop, the arresting officer affixed the driver's beagle to 6 weather balloons filled with helium."

Anyone else?

[DrAwkward]

No follow ups. Must have been the dangling modifier.