A disturbing video posted online seems to depict a U.S. marshal kicking a small dog and allegedly causing a broken rib while making an arrest outside of a Memphis apartment complex on Wednesday.
The footage shows a marshal in uniform, apparently armed, approaching a miniature schnauzer barking at him and kicking it.
Emma Hollingsworth, the dog’s owner, said in a video posted on Facebook on Thursday, “This is not law enforcement. This is animal cruelty. They literally kicked him for no reason.”
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Hollingsworth claimed that the officers released her dog from her home while executing an arrest warrant for her boyfriend, who was complying with the marshals’ instructions to come out when they forcibly entered the front door.
The video captures the small dog running around and barking at the officers, as well as an officer restraining a much larger dog, later identified as a police K9. A battering ram is visible on the ground near the door.
Hollingsworth accused the officers of using excessive force and demanded their removal from duty.
The U.S. Marshals Service, in a statement to local station WREG, described the incident as “unfortunate” but claimed that the dog “repeatedly and aggressively” attempted to attack the working K9, forcing the marshal to take a “last-resort, split-second decision.”
Hollingsworth’s boyfriend, who was arrested, was wanted for commercial burglary in north Mississippi, according to the authorities.
“The dog’s owner was instructed to restrain the dog but did not comply. A deputy U.S. marshal intervened to keep the animal away from the K9,” they stated. “It was a last-resort, split-second action taken by a law enforcement officer to maintain order and address a potentially dangerous situation. An uncontrolled, aggressive animal can impede official duties and pose a safety risk.”
The statement also accused the dog’s owner of violating the city’s leash laws, which mandate that dogs be restrained at all times.
“Dogs off-property must be on a leash, while on-property, they must be behind a secure fence, a functional invisible fence, or a proper, safe tether,” the statement added.
The U.S. Marshals Service did not immediately respond to JS’s request for comment on Friday. Hollingsworth was not available for comment at that time.
