Harrisonburg Officer Facing Charges for Killing Family Dog
May 18, 2012
The Harrisonburg police officer that admitted to shooting and killing a 10-month-old dog is now facing charges.
Sgt. Russell Metcalf is charged with one count of animal cruelty and one count of reckless handling of a firearm.
Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson says Metcalf was riding his bike in the Clover Hill neighborhood earlier this month when he shot and killed the dog.
The dog's owner says she was not an aggressive or intimidating dog. She weighed about 20 pounds-on the smaller side of the border collie lab mix.
"Whether it was a police officer or not, it should not have happened," said Becky Bonds, whose parents' dog, Sadie, was shot to death outside their home.
Metcalf was released on a summons. According to the Harrisonburg Police Department, he has been removed from active patrol assignment.
HPD is also conducting an internal investigation.
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