A Civilian Complaint Review Board has substantiated charges against a New York cop who killed a pet dog approaching him in an apartment building while wagging it’s tail.
The Board said Police Officer Ruben Cuesta abused his authority when he shot the pit bull.
NYDailyNews:
Cuesta and his partner were investigating a domestic violence call inside an apartment building on E. 183rd St. on Feb. 13 when he shot Yvonne Rosado’s 4-year-old pit bull Spike.
NYPD Officer Ruben Cuesta abused his authority when he shot Spike, a pit bull, in an E. 183rd St. apartment building on Feb. 13, according to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
A surveillance video The News obtained shows Cuesta backing away from Spike — then shooting the 70-pound pooch from a few feet away as he slowly approached, wagging his tail.
Along with substantiating abuse of authority complaints, the CCRB recommended that Cuesta, who joined the NYPD in 2008, be retrained.
Spike wagged his tail as he slowly approached Cuesta prior to being shot.
The CCRB also lobbed abuse of authority charges against two cops with Cuesta who had allegedly forced their way into the building, according to a source with knowledge of the case.
The department will take the agency’s findings into consideration as they review Cuesta’s actions. Cuesta remains on active duty.
The NYPD did not return a request for comment Saturday.
A lawsuit against the city filed by attorney David Thompson on behalf of Rosado was pending.
Click the banner to discover ideas for a better world by abolishing the police.
“In all circumstances we have to leave it to the officer’s understanding of what’s happening at the scene as to what piece of equipment he might use — Taser, pepper spray, firearm,” former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said in March.
“In this instance, he used the firearm, so now, as part of the investigation, he’ll have to justify what was going through his mind at that particular time.”
