Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Owner's Claim That Arizona Deputy Unnecessarily Shot Her Dog Refuted by Video

MCSO says the pet dog called Chevy attacked Tarzan and inflicted a number of injuries. The deputy tried to separate the two dogs but after that failed, he shot and killed Chevy. "MCSO K-9 Tarzan sustained injuries to his face and chest to include a broken tooth," the statement reads.

August 10, 2018
Owner's Claim That Arizona Deputy Unnecessarily Shot Her Dog Refuted by Video

When a dog attacked his K-9, a Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff's deputy opened fire. The owner says the shooting was dangerous to her daughter and unnecessary. MCSO has released body camera footage to refute her claims.

2 min to read



After a resident of Youngstown, AZ, used local media reports to accuse a Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy of endangering her life and unnecessarily killing her dog, the agency issued a statement and released body camera video refuting the claims.

Deputies were called to a home in Youngstown in the West Valley area of Phoenix Saturday night over a domestic incident. The statement from the sheriff's office says it was the third time deputies had been called to the address in 60 days.

Ad Loading...

The suspect in the domestic had left the residence before deputies arrived, the statement says. In order to aid the search for the suspect, one of the deputies retrieved his K-9 from his patrol vehicle. The handler then walked down a back alley toward the home, as shown in the body camera video.

When the K-9 handler and his dog Tarzan reached the back of the home, they caught the attention of a dog belonging to a resident. The gate to the back yard was open and despite efforts by the pet's owner to stop the dog—described as a pit bull by the local media—from leaving the yard, it charged after the officer and Tarzan, the video shows.

MCSO says the pet dog called Chevy attacked Tarzan and inflicted a number of injuries. The deputy tried to separate the two dogs but after that failed, he shot and killed Chevy. "MCSO K-9 Tarzan sustained injuries to his face and chest to include a broken tooth," the statement reads.

Chevy's owner, Suzette Klein, told ABC15 she and her son had gotten into an argument, and when her son was leaving out the back he left the back fence open.

"My daughter was actually out there as the cop was shooting him. She had his back legs," Klein said. "I think that instead of erring on the side of caution they erred on the side of aggression and it caused a chaotic scene."

Ad Loading...

The video released by MCSO does not show anyone other than the deputy within arm's reach of Chevy during the shooting.

Deputies detained the male suspect who was accused of getting into a fight; officials told ABC15 News at the scene.

Per agency policy, the shooting is the subject of an internal MCSO investigation.


More Patrol

Team Wendy EXFIL Endurance ballistic helmet in olive green with tactical rails and chin strap, displayed alongside the Team Wendy logo and product headline against a textured black-and-gray background.
Patrol•October 23, 2026

Team Wendy Introduces the EXFIL Endurance Ballistic Helmet, Engineered to Reduce the Burden of Extended Wear

Team Wendy has launched its EXFIL Endurance, a new lightweight ballistic helmet engineered to deliver protection, comfort, and fit during demanding, extended operations.

Read More →
Collage featuring paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and emergency vehicles surrounding the First Responders Children’s Foundation logo, highlighting the organization’s support for families of first responders.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC

First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.

Read More →
Streamlight promotional graphic showcasing four lighting products: TLR-3X, PolyTac 1X, ProTac Rail Mount 1L-X, and ProTac Rail Mount VIR Pro, displayed against an orange and black background with the Streamlight logo.
Patrol•October 22, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026

Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III featuring a tripod-mounted LED work light and close-up product view, with a badge recognizing it as the 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year winner.
Patrol•October 15, 2026

Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award

Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.

Read More →
Hands insert an Adept Armor protective plate into a camouflage tactical plate carrier, demonstrating how the armor plate fits inside the vest.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates

Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.

Read More →
Open Benchmade folding knife with a bronze-colored blade, textured dark handle, and braided lanyard resting on weathered wooden boards.
Patrol•by Wayne Parham•September 17, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout

The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Officer of the Month graphic honoring Deputy Lorne Juday of the Osceola County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office for July 2026, featuring a portrait of Juday in uniform.
Patrol•September 17, 2026

NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month

NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.

Read More →
Streamlight promotional graphic featuring the LiteBox 1 Million handheld light and Portable Scene Light III, highlighting products displayed for the 2026 National Safety Council Safety Congress & Expo in Indianapolis, Sept. 14–16.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026

Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the 2027 World Police & Fire Games in Perth, Australia, featuring an aerial city view and photos of international participants carrying Brazilian and Australian flags.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia

The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
New York City skyline at night with the Tribute in Light beams illuminating the sky in remembrance of September 11, with the 5.11 logo in the upper left.
Patrol•September 10, 2026

5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343

5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Read More →