The federal lawsuit, filed by roommates living in a Maryland apartment, claims that on June 2, 2021, Prince George’s County police officers responded to a dog bite report at the plaintiffs’ apartment complex.
Prince George’s County police officers are facing a $16 million lawsuit following allegations of illegal entry, unjust detention, and the unnecessary shooting of a pet dog
The encounter, captured on body camera and a cellphone video, unfolded as officers entered the apartment, allegedly without a warrant, and discharged firearms and a stun gun at the pet dog, a boxer mix named Hennessey. The lawsuit asserts that the Prince George’s County police officers panicked and fired at the dog, leaving it paralyzed and eventually leading to euthanasia. Despite one of the plaintiffs protesting the Prince George’s County police officers’ entry, citing a lack of warrant, the situation escalated. After the shooting, the roommates were handcuffed and held in police vehicles for approximately an hour before being released.
The plaintiffs, Erica Umana, Erika Erazo Sanchez, Dayri Amaya Benitez, and Brandon Cuevas, are suing both the county and the three Prince George’s County police officers involved. Allegations include excessive force, false arrest, and violations of constitutional rights.
The lawsuit contends that the incident is a consequence of a flawed policing system in Prince George’s County and points to a history of police misconduct in the area
Notably, the suit draws attention to a pattern of excessive force, referencing the 2020 killing of an unarmed Black man, William Green, by a Prince George’s County Prince George’s County police officer. Green’s case resulted in a $20 million settlement with the family, represented by the same law firm handling the current lawsuit.
The roommates’ lawyer, William “Billy” Murphy Jr., emphasized the egregious nature of the officers’ conduct, stating that such actions are unacceptable in 2021 and go against the principles ingrained in America’s founding.
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