The small city of Sturgeon, Missouri, has agreed to a $500,000 settlement with the owner of a blind and deaf dog who was shot dead by a police officer, an incident that triggered public outrage and a political scandal.
The five-year-old Shih Tzu, named Teddy, was killed by Officer Myron Woodson on May 19, 2024, after the dog escaped from his owner's fenced yard. A neighbour had called the police for assistance in returning the 13-pound dog to its owner, Nicholas Hunter.
A Fatal Response and Mounting Outrage
Bodycam footage from the incident showed Officer Woodson chasing Teddy around a field for several minutes, attempting to catch him with a pole. The footage, part of which was initially redacted, then shows the officer shooting the dog dead.
The city initially defended the action in a Facebook post, claiming Woodson feared the dog was rabid. This justification was later contradicted by video evidence of a confrontation where Woodson reportedly stated he shot Teddy because he believed him to be a stray and seriously injured.
In an affidavit, Woodson stated, "I believed the dog was seriously injured and suffering. I followed and complied with the City of Sturgeon Police Department policies related to deadly force."
Political Fallout and Legal Action
The shooting caused a tremendous furore in the community of roughly 900 people, leading to calls to disband the local police force. The then-mayor, Kevin Abrahamson, initially supported the officer but later resigned amid the controversy.
His successor suspended Officer Woodson. However, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), which helped fund the subsequent lawsuit, alleges a promised investigation into Woodson never took place. Court papers also revealed the city later paid Woodson a $16,000 settlement for his suspension.
Nicholas Hunter's legal team filed a lawsuit claiming the city had failed to properly train its officers in handling dogs. The city maintained the event was an isolated incident.
A Costly Settlement and Hopes for Change
The $500,000 settlement was announced on Friday, with $282,500 going to Mr Hunter and $217,500 to his lawyers.
Hunter's legal team stated, "Mr. Hunter is relieved this matter is concluded, but nothing can ever bring his Teddy back. Teddy was a good dog who did not deserve this. We hope that other departments will learn from this and train their officers better in the future so events like this don’t happen again."
Officer Woodson ultimately resigned from the police force and now works as a process server. The incident highlights a broader, troubling pattern of police shootings of dogs under disputed circumstances, with similar cases reported in states including Georgia, Louisiana, and Colorado.
