Leah Anderson sues Mpls police for shooting her dog

By Andy Mannix Fri., Jun. 8 2012 at 6:00 AM

Photo submitted as evidence in the civil case.

The lawsuit alleges Minneapolis police returned to trash Leah Anderson's home after shooting her dog.

A North Side woman is suing the city of Minneapolis and two unknown police officers over the death of her eight-month-old pit bull.

The officers shot Leah Anderson's dog 10 times this spring while in pursuit of her brother, leaving Anderson with no choice but to euthanize the dog, according to the civil complaint.

In the process, the officers accidentally shot one of their own, and about 30 vengeful officers showed up at Anderson's house later that night to trash it, the lawsuit alleges.

"They went through the house and started destroying things," says Christopher Kuhlman, Anderson's attorney in the federal civil rights case. "That's what scares me the most. I think that's a pretty clear civil rights violation. They're searching in places where there's no possible way a suspect could be hiding."

The Minneapolis city attorney's office has received the suit, says a city spokesman, but hasn't had time to review it, so wouldn't comment.

The dog suffered from 10 puncture wounds, according to a vet report.

Here's what the lawsuit alleges:

Around 9:30 p.m. on March 30, Anderson was hosting a few guests in town for her mother's funeral when her brother, Roosevelt Montgomery, showed up unannounced. Montgomery is a level-3 sex offender, and Anderson promptly turned him away from the house.

A few minutes later, three Minneapolis police officers arrived in pursuit of Montgomery. Anderson's husband met them in the yard, and said Montgomery had fled through the back door. One the family's dogs appeared, and as Anderson's husband tried to collect it, an officer shouted "pit bull," and the three open fired. In the hail of gunfire, an officer was somehow shot in the leg.

Later that night, about 30 officers showed up to Anderson's house, apparently thinking someone living there shot their fellow officer. They handcuffed Anderson's family, and began trashing the house. Among the items listed as destroyed or damaged: a flat-screen TV, several windows and doors, a pool table, and a fish tank -- killing the family's fish and hermit crabs.

Here are a few of the photos included as evidence in the civil complaint:

Photo included as evidence in the civil case.

Photo included as evidence in the civil case.

Photo included as evidence in the civil case.

The lawsuit also includes an autopsy report of the dog, performed by the University of Minnesota's college of veterinary medicine. The report confirms the dog was put down March 31 and that it was "shot multiple times." The dog suffered from a total of 10 puncture wounds, and had one slug and several fragments removed from its body. Read the whole vet report here:
03-1

We'll update with a response to the allegations from the city attorney when one is provided.

Tags:

Christopher Kuhlman, City Attorney, Leah Anderson, Minneapolis Police, Pit Bull

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biscuit99

Don't kill their pets but at least get them to a safer place to live,then do whatever you want with the cops

Mandy Anderson

So, I read another article about this story and it had more information. They also shot and injured another dog of theirs, thankfully it survived, and returned the NEXT day to harass them even more! They told one family member he was lucky it was daylight or they'd put him in the hospital! They also used a racial slur to insult them! The woman had to call their Sgt on the phone to call them off! Luckily he did. This case is unbelievable!

Thomas Kirby

Vote of "no confidence" from me, both for the police who did that and the city that allows them to run wild like that. What do you want to bet the city council is afraid of the police?

Regis

was she not paid up on her protection money?

NoOneAboveLaws

This is DISGUSTING and UNLAWFULL acts that these MOBSTERS in blue have committed, They need to be fired for misconduct,animal abuse and murder,felony home invasion,trespassing,reckless endangerment,,destruction of privet property,unlawful detaining,and one for shooting a officer of the law, then brought up on charges as well for all the above and locked up. If not they will abuse more citizens and animals in due time. I mean really,WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE? CRIMANELS WITH BADGES IS WHAT THEY ARE.

john

Yes this is absolutely pathetic. First of all, an officer shouts "pit bull"? whats up with that? with no provocation you draw your weapons and start shooting because you see a dog. now i am getting out of the complaint that it was only 3 officers. so the mighty machine of the Minneapolis PD have 3 full grown male wimps, shooting a defenseless family member an average of 3.3 times per weapon, does the term OVERKILL come to mind to anyone else? The owner was cooperating, as in "he went out the back door". and this is how you thank him for his cooperation? along with coming back to trash his residence. How many out there would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to be on this jury? Me, i would have the names of every individual officer that was there on both occasions. and they would be in the civil suite along with the city. pick me for the jury.

Peter Paonessa

I like to see more criminals with badges killed.

Caveman1957

VERY well put!

Mandy Anderson

This article tells more of the story. Apparently ANOTHER of their dogs was shot as well, but thankfully not killed.http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/158270325.html

Mandy Anderson

Their mother had just died as well, so this just ADDED to their stress. Grieving over their puppy and other pets on top of that. It's infuriating! If any petitions go up about this, let me know so I can sign! Leah, I am so, so, sorry for what you are going through right now.