It’s not quite as earth-shaking as a missing iPhone 5, but there was some intense police activity yesterday on Andover, just off Cortland. Several readers spoke to the cops to find out what was going on, and their stories fit together to tell a reasonably coherent story. Putting all the pieces together, I compiled this unofficial version of what apparently happened:
On Wednesday morning at around 9:30 am, SFPD responded to a report of a pit bull that had bitten charged someone a few blocks away. When the officer arrived on scene, the dog charged the officer, so he fired five or six shots at the animal. Reportedly, none of the shots hit the dog, but eventually backup arrived, the animal was subdued, the street was closed off, and much commotion ensued.
Again, this is an unofficial account, so some of the details may be off, but from it you can get a general sense of what went down. Bad doggie. Baaaaaad doggie.
UPDATE: Neighbor Erik brings the full report (promoted from the comments below):
The pit bull charged a 1 1/2 year-old boy. I do not think it actually bit him. The father picked up his son quickly and started screaming at the inhabitants of the house where the dog lives. I also came out and told them they just needed to close their door and stop letting the dog out on the porch, as it tends to attack other dogs that go by.
I have never seen it attack a person. This was the first time I had heard of this. The dog killed a chihuahua a few months back. The inhabitants closed their door, but apparently only temporarily, as the dog was back outside when the policeman arrived. I heard the shots ring out, and came out to see the dog running up and down the street. The policeman did wing it on the ear, and it was bleeding. There is a blood trail on the sidewalk. At this point, about 3-4 cop cars showed up, animal control came along and took the dog away. I do not think it has returned to the house.
The family whose son was attacked are extremely distraught. They live next door to the house with the pit bull. They are living there temporarily until their new house is done being renovated on another street. They are nice people and wouldn’t hurt a fly.
The people where the pit bull lives do not actually own the dog. One of them is more or less in charge of it, but they are not diligent in any way about looking after the dog as they should. It is an unfortunate state of affairs, and could so easily be solved if they would just not let the dog out off leash.
UPDATE II: Reader SER has provided the SFPD summary of the incident (promoted from the comments):
9:24am 200 Blk Andover Vicious Dog
Officers Curry and Turner were dispatched to the call of a vicious dog. The reportee told dispatch that a neighbor’s dog had attacked members of her family no one was injured. The officers arrived and spoke with the reportee who said he was outside when he observed a tan pit bull began barking and aggressively charging at him and his son. The victim yelled at the dog to stop and the dog stopped and returned to the house next door (home).The victim told the officers that there have been various issues with the neighbors and his dog in the past. The victim also believed the dog was not being properly taken care of. The owner of the home where the suspect and dog live arrived and began speaking with Officer Curry. The owner expressed concern of the tenants who resided in the rental property. The officers requested that Animal Care and Control respond to the address as well because they were going to attempt to contact the owner of the dog. While Officer Curry was speaking with the owner of the property the suspect came out of the residence with the dog. Officer Curry instructed the suspect dog owner to place a leash on the dog. The suspect refused to obey the officer’s command. The dog then began aggressively growling at the officer and charged the officer and the property owner. In fear of his personal safety and that of innocent bystanders Officer Curry drew his department issued firearm and shot at the dog. Officer Curry requested assistance over the radio and numerous units including officers, Sergeants and Lieutenants responded to the scene to assist. The dog was located Animal Care and Control took custody of the wounded dog.
Officer Giannini and Civilian Police Services Aides Der and Navarro responded, processed the scene for evidence and took various pictures which they booked into evidence at Ingleside Station. Officer Deny with the SFPD Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit responded and took over the investigation .this incident is still under investigation. The dog did not suffer life threatening injuries. Report Number 110698684
PHOTO: Police responding on Andover. Photo by Reader Paul
Bernalwood 
Where did the bullets go? 5 or 6 misses. Someone needs to spend some time at the shooting range
Recently been to the shooting range myself, I know how difficult it is to hit a stationary target at 7 meters under a controlled environment. Now imagine the challenge of shooting a moving target like a charging dangerous pit bull. Let’s cut SFPD some slack on this one, yes?
The pit bull charged a 1 1/2 year-old boy. I do not think it actually bit him. The father picked up his son quickly and started screaming at the inhabitants of the house where the dog lives. I also came out and told them they just needed to close their door and stop letting the dog out on the porch, as it tends to attack other dogs that go by. I have never seen it attack a person. This was the first time I had heard of this. The dog killed a chihuahua a few months back. The inhabitants closed their door, but apparently only temporarily, as the dog was back outside when the policeman arrived. I heard the shots ring out, and came out to see the dog running up and down the street. The policeman did wing it on the ear, and it was bleeding. There is a blood trail on the sidewalk. At this point, about 3-4 cop cars showed up, animal control came along and took the dog away. I do not think it has returned to the house.
The family whose son was attacked are extremely distraught. They live next door to the house with the pit bull. They are living there temporarily until their new house is done being renovated on another street. They are nice people and wouldn’t hurt a fly. The people where the pit bull lives do not actually own the dog. One of them is more or less in charge of it, but they are not diligent in any way about looking after the dog as they should. It is an unfortunate state of affairs, and could so easily be solved if they would just not let the dog out off leash.
the poor dog, it sounds like it needs new owners asap. more attentive owners who will work on socializing the dog, and making it a happy and loving dog. pit bulls aren’t ‘mean’ or bag dogs, just the owners!!!
“The dog killed a chihuahua a few months back.” JESUS CHRIST, why wasn’t the dog taken by SFACC at that point? Ugh.
Agreed! I am making a mental note to avoid walking down this street with my kids or dog. Dogs shouldn’t be out loose on the street anyway, but especially not one that has shown violent tendencies towards other dogs/people in the past. Yikes.
Once a pit gets that bloodlust and starts killing small animals, I’m sorry, but it needs to be put down. Had it caught the child, that child could easily have been mauled to death.
–Ex Pit Owner
Scary. Pit bulls and their (usually) hostile/negligent owners should be banned, IMHO.
heard the gunshots over here on Bocana, sorry to hear why and thankful all (except the dog) are ok. But seriously, having just got a Golden Retriever puppy I am so much more aware of off leash dogs and am quickly beginning to have disdain for owners that keep letting their dogs jump on me and casually say sorry – and roughly play with my puppy who is defenseless on leash. GRRrrrrrr….
Sorry to hear about your puppy; I’ve had the same thing happen with my kid. Off-leash dog gets over-excited, practically bowls the kid over, kid is terrified, and dog-owner is blasé/indifferent — despite watching the whole thing unfold just a few feet away. It’s maddening, and rude, to say the least.
I am a devoted dog owner/guardian/companion, but I have a mental manifesto about the way we dog owners in general should think about the on/off-leash question since some folks can be quite blase indeed about their off-leash dog’s effect upon other beings (human and canine).
I also have a sneaking suspicion, however, that when one begins committing one’s imagined manifesto to paper, one might also start wearing a tinfoil hat and viewing personal hygiene conventions as one of the methods by which “they” control us all.
SER, bring the manifesto! At the very least, it would be good fodder for Bernalwood discussion. We can just call it a “draft manifesto,” eh?
I walk down that block with my 11 lb dog every day. My dog insists on peeing near that house each time. He doesn’t like intact males. Never felt threatened, but you could see that pit wasn’t being raised well.
I’ve seen that dog wander around unsupervised for two plus years. I can’t blame the dog for what he’s become.
I cannot understand how anyone can assert a pit bull lives in their house but they do not actually own him. That is completely irresponsible for any dog, let alone a breed as powerful and human-oriented as pits. Pits look to humans for direction (even more than other breeds). In its absence, bad things can happen.
After an officer-involved shooting, I’d expect that household to get some official attention. I cannot imagine that animal would ever be returned. I expect he will be destroyed.
My neutered male dog also dislikes intact males. Do you know why this is?
Jealously! 🙂 In all seriousness, I think fixed males dogs respond to the smell of intact males as a challenge. It raises the intensity of the encounter. That doesn’t mean they are necessarily going to fight, but it get everyone’s dander up.
I know it’s useless to point out the multi-leveled tragedy here, but it makes me very, very sad. All of it.
Report on the incident from the Ingleside Police Station:
9:24am 200 Blk Andover Vicious Dog
Officers Curry and Turner were dispatched to the call of a vicious dog. The reportee told dispatch that a neighbor’s dog had attacked members of her family no one was injured. The officers arrived and spoke with the reportee who said he was outside when he observed a tan pit bull began barking and aggressively charging at him and his son. The victim yelled at the dog to stop and the dog stopped and returned to the house next door (home).
The victim told the officers that there have been various issues with the neighbors and his dog in the past. The victim also believed the dog was not being properly taken care of. The owner of the home where the suspect and dog live arrived and began speaking with Officer Curry. The owner expressed concern of the tenants who resided in the rental property. The officers requested that Animal Care and Control respond to the address as well because they were going to attempt to contact the owner of the dog. While Officer Curry was speaking with the owner of the property the suspect came out of the residence with the dog. Officer Curry instructed the suspect dog owner to place a leash on the dog. The suspect refused to obey the officer’s command. The dog then began aggressively growling at the officer and charged the officer and the property owner. In fear of his personal safety and that of innocent bystanders Officer Curry drew his department issued firearm and shot at the dog. Officer Curry requested assistance over the radio and numerous units including officers, Sergeants and Lieutenants responded to the scene to assist. The dog was located Animal Care and Control took custody of the wounded dog.
Officer Giannini and Civilian Police Services Aides Der and Navarro responded, processed the scene for evidence and took various pictures which they booked into evidence at Ingleside Station. Officer Deny with the SFPD Vicious and Dangerous Dog Unit responded and took over the investigation .this incident is still under investigation. The dog did not suffer life threatening injuries. Report Number 110698684
Ok, this is one of the parts that bothers me:
“Officer Curry instructed the suspect dog owner to place a leash on the dog. The suspect refused to obey the officer’s command.”
Really?! Why the hell not?! I think the dog’s owner should have been taken into custody for being a dick.
Agreed! How is that not refusing to comply to police orders? That dude is a total dumbfuck and will be arrested soon i am sure if he so blazenly refused a police command when YOU are the perp! I walk by this house every day. Luckily i have must have picked just the right times, because i have seen the dog on the porch but never seen it free roaming!
The fact is that dig should never be allowed off leash. There are many nice pits I’n an around Bernal but, unfortunately, every one of them are slaves to their instinct. But really folks, what I’m really concerned about is a cop shooting five rounds in our neighborhood! One could have easily penetrated a wall and seriously injured or killed someone. I bet ACC didn’t use a 9mm Glock to subdue the dog.
Any time a police officer discharges his firearm it sets off a whole process of review. Not just internal but I believe the DA office gets a referral (I think that’s the case; can’t say for sure).
bad dog? sounds like seriously bad owners! if it killed another dog, sorry he needs to go too! sadly.