Deputy Shoots Family Dog, Now a Federal Lawsuit Seeks Justice
Lake Charles, Louisiana – Tank was a 5-year-old Rottweiler. His family says he was alone in their yard back on August 1st, 2025, when a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy “allegedly” drove onto the family’s private driveway and shot him.
That is the heart of a new federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the Granger family.
And then just the other day on May 20th 2026, Sheriff Stitch Guillory took to Facebook publicly defending the deputy’s decision, saying body camera footage shows an unrestrained and aggressive dog charging at the deputy.
HIS FULL STATEMENT:
“…“In an attempt to restore the confidence and trust of the community we serve, I feel compelled to set the record straight and release the video in regards to a current lawsuit filed, which details aired on tv,” stated Sheriff Stitch Guillory. “The plaintiff and her attorney made untrue, unsubstantiated comments without any basis in regards to an incident in which our deputy had to shoot a dog. I think the video speaks for itself; the deputy was attacked by an unrestrained aggressive dog and the deputy took reasonable measures to prevent harm to himself. Evidence shows the dog owner had knowledge, prior to this incident, that her dog acted aggressively to others and had been under investigation by animal control.
Our CPSO deputies work hard to keep the community safe and earn the trust of those we serve. I refuse to allow a frivolous lawsuit, with no merit, make our community question the intentions of the ones who serve and protect Calcasieu Parish on a daily basis.”
Here is the timeline for anyone seeing Tank’s story for the first time.
According to Shamieh Law, the deputy was dispatched to 637 Debra Lane because of a neighbor’s traffic complaint. The lawsuit alleges the deputy observed no traffic violation, then drove onto the Granger family’s private driveway. Tank, described by the family’s attorneys as a 5-year-old Rottweiler with no history of aggression, was in his own yard.
The lawsuit alleges there was no justifiable reason to fire a gun, but the deputy shot and killed Tank anyway.
Christine Granger reportedly came home to find sheriff’s units around her house and was told her dog was dead. Four days later, according to the lawsuit, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office returned Tank’s cremated remains to the family in a box with his name on it.
But the lawsuit does not stop at the shooting.
It also alleges body camera footage shows the deputy reenacting the shooting with another colleague and that other cameras on scene were deliberately turned off. Shamieh Law says the family later requested the footage through a public records request, but the sheriff’s office denied it under a statute the family’s attorneys say does not apply.
The lawsuit names the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Gary Stitch Guillory, and a Calcasieu Parish sheriff’s deputy. It alleges constitutional violations, conversion, negligent training and supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a jury trial.
Sheriff Guillory is now pushing back. In his public statement, he says the deputy had to make a split-second decision. He says the body camera video shows Tank charging at the deputy, and he also says animal control had previous records involving the dog reportedly acting aggressively in the neighborhood.
So this is where the case stands: Tank’s family says their dog was killed on private property, cameras were turned off, and his ashes were sent home days later. The sheriff says the deputy’s actions were justified by what the body camera shows.
For animal advocates, the question is simple. If a family dog is shot in his own yard by law enforcement, should the public get the full footage, the full timeline, and full accountability?
Is this one of the more than 10,000+ cases each year (that are reported) where a law enforcement officer shoots a dog and the one thing they must say is that they were in fear for their life.
According to the Department of Justice the 10,000-per-year figure is most commonly traced back to a statement by Laurel Matthews, a DOJ official, who described the situation as an epidemic.
Stay tuned. More to come.
SOURCE: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office; Shamieh Law; KPLC
#dogs#animals#animalwelfare#TheRealPaulMueller
DISCLAIMERS: Fair use. Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.