Monday, January 17, 2000
Cop in wrong home kills dog
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Breanna Diefenbacher, 4, gets a hug from grandma Melody Howard at the girl's New Miami home Sunday.
(Gary Landers photo)
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NEW MIAMI — A Butler County sheriff's deputy entered the wrong house early Sunday morning and shot the family dog when it challenged him, the family said. The dog later died.
Officials were not talking, but the family said the unidentified deputy was supposed to be at a neighbor's house where New Miami police were responding to a domestic violence call.
Instead, he entered the home of Mike and Angie Diefenbacher in the 1700 block of North Wichita Drive without permission, the Diefenbachers said. The couple were at their neighbor's house when the deputy arrived.
Bruto, the Diefenbachers' black and white American pit bull terrier, confronted the deputy as he stepped through the door into the house at about 2:20 a.m.
Breanna Diefenbacher, 4, said she saw the deputy fire one shot at Bruto. The bullet struck the dog's back.
Tim Mikesell, Breanna's uncle, was sleeping downstairs when he heard Bruto snarling and then a gunshot. He said police officers told him the dog had bitten the deputy.
Mike Diefenbacher took Bruto to an emergency veterinary clinic; the dog's back legs were paralyzed and the vet euthanized him.
“He's my buddy,” said Mr. Diefenbacher, his eyes growing red. “All the dog was doing was protecting my children and my family.”
As Mr. Diefenbacher spoke, Bruto lay in the back of a pickup truck, wrapped in a baby blue sheet with his well-chewed football.
The family plans to bury him at Mr. Diefenbacher's mother's house next to Duke, a beagle pup who died years ago of parvovirus.
Family members said the issue goes beyond the shooting of their pet.
Several others were sleeping in the house, including the Diefenbachers' other daughter, Tailor Rice, 6, and Mr. Mikesell's pregnant wife and three children.
“The dog is sad, but that's not the real story here,” said Breanna's grandmother, Melody Howard, of Gratis, Ohio,
who came over after the shooting. “I can't believe someone could discharge a gun in someone's living room. They don't know how many lives they put in jeopardy firing that gun.”
Mr. Diefenbacher and Mr. Mikesell went to the New Miami police station and to the Butler County Sheriff's Department in Hamilton looking for answers. They say they obtained no satisfaction.
The Diefenbachers want to know why the deputy didn't double check their address before he entered their home. The number is clearly visible next to the door.
They also want to know why the deputy shot Bruto, rather than exit the house.
A sheriff's deputy called the Diefenbachers Sunday afternoon to apologize, Angie Diefenbacher said. No one was available at the sheriff's department Sunday to discuss the Diefenbachers' complaint. The case is under investigation.
The Diefenbachers said they have hired an attorney and plan to seek damages.
“We're very disgusted with Butler County and the way they handled things,” Mr. Diefenbacher said.
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