Faulkner County dispatchers receive threats after dog shooting

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CONWAY -- An Arkansas prosecutor is calling for the public to be patient and stop threatening local dispatchers after a sheriff's deputy shot a Chihuahua dog while responding to a call about an animal attack.

The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office received more than 300 calls the day after the shooting, The Log Cabin Democrat reported . One caller threatened a dispatcher's pets and children, while another threatened the deputy involved in the shooting. The office's website and social media have also been flooded with messages.

The backlash comes after Faulkner County resident Doug Canady released a home security video showing K-9 handler Keenan Wallace shooting a Chihuahua on Friday near Conway.

Wallace had been responding to a call about a dog attacking a woman. Wallace wrote in a report that he'd asked Canady to step outside to discuss the complaints, but Canady refused. Wallace wrote that the dog then lunged toward him and he fired his weapon.

Faulkner County Sheriff Tim Ryals announced Saturday that Wallace had been fired.

Faulkner County Prosecutor Carol Crews urged residents to stop harassing the sheriff's office. She said residents need to be patient so she has time to review the case and consider possible charges.

Crews said she also plans to investigate all threats made after the shooting.

Canady also posted a video on Facebook urging residents to stop harassing Wallace's family. He said the dog, named Reese's, is seeing small improvements and will hopefully return to "the bouncy, lovable, energetic dog she used to be."

NW News on 01/11/2019

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