Johnson and his murder victim, Karley
On November 3rd of this year, a 6-month old puppy was beaten to death by LA Assistant Chief Glynn Johnson.
Jeff and Shelley Toole were the caretakers of Karley, a German Shepherd mix. On the fateful day, Karley ran across Officer Johnson's yard. In a pre-trial hearing, neighbors who witnessed the killing of Karley, testified that they were taking Karley back to the Tooles' yard when Officer Johnson "volunteered" to take Karley back. They also testified that, when they turned Karley over to Johnson, this latter proceeded to punch Karley about a dozen times. Johnson then spread Karley's jaw apart until he broke it, and then beat the pup over the head with an 11-inch, 12-pound, rock. The neighbors tried to stop the attack, but Officer Johnson pushed them away. Johnson apparently stopped hitting Karley after she went limp. Karley then managed to drag herself to a nearby ravine.
The Tooles' teenage children rushed Karley to the veterinarian and, later, an animal intensive care unit. Karley was diagnosed with a skull cracked in three places, a broken jaw, crushed captivity, and collapsed ear canal. Karley had also lost one eye. Doctor Angela Howard said that she had never before seen such a level of injury: "I've seen pets who have been hit by cars and they were thrown by the car and suffered fractures to the nose or skull, but I've never seen a case where the head was that badly damaged." As a result, Karley was euthanized.
Johnson has claimed self-defense alleging that Karley had bitten down on his thumb and he was merely trying to let her to release it. Sheriff's deputies responded to the crime scene but failed to arrest Officer Johnson who could face up to four years in jail if convicted. According to a report published in the Beverly Hills Times, neighbors believe Officer Johnson is responsible for the deaths of other animals in the neighborhood. In 2000, the Tooles had previously complained that Officer Johnson had shot a previous dog they owned, Kalhua, above the eye with a pellet gun. The Tooles were advised not to pursue the case since it would be their word against Officer Johnson.
Since Karley's death, the Tooles have worked with the Animal Defense Fund League ("ALDF") to craft "Karley's law" which, if enacted, would give parties, whose animals have been the subject of animal cruelty, the right to bring a civil action against the perpetrator which would take into consideration the emotional distress, and loss of companionship. This would be a significant modification to existing laws which do not allow, and in fact specifically prohibit in most cases, taking into consideration those two factors when awarding damages. That's because animals are considered "property", no different than a table or a chair, by the laws in all of the states. Karley's law would also provide for punitive damages in the amount of $1,000 for every intentional act of cruelty the animal was subjected to. The Tooles have since relocated and set up a website (see below).
This is the second incident involving a fireman this year. Earlier this year, Columbus (Ohio) firefighter, David Santuomo pleaded guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal too. Wanting to go on a cruise with his new girlfriend, Santuomo had killed his two dogs by hanging them and shooting them, before disposing of their bodies in the firehouse's dumpster. Santuomo had declined a neighbor's offer to take care of the dogs. As a last gesture of regret at the end of his hearing, Officer Santuomo, who offered no apology for killing his dogs, raised his middle finger to the reporters assembled to cover his story. (www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9726-Seattle-Pet-Laws-Examiner~y2009m6d28-Firefighter-shoots-pets-to-go-on-cruise)
Officer Johnston, who is free on $10,000 bail and has been placed on paid (i.e., with your tax money) administrative leave, is to go on trial on January 6, 2010. He has also filed suit against the Tooles claiming that the alleged bite on his thumb has left him permanently disabled.
Should Officer Johnson be found not guilty and her returns to service, let's hope he is not called to someone's house where pets are present. God knows what he would do if the cat scratched him as he was trying to rescue it from the burning home. For the record, Officer Johnson lives and works in the Woodcrest neighborhood of Riverside (CA).who is
For more info: Karley's web site: www.justice4karley.com/news_4.htm; EcoStar Law, PLLC: www.ecotarlaw.com; Animal League Defense Fund: www.aldf.org.
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Comments
thats really _ _ _ _ up
My God what is this world coming too. there only animals, small children, they done no harm too be treaded this way. if he dose this too animals what dose he do too people? he needs not too be in this line of work. oh you might think oh he just a a bad day. NOT He needs too get some help wile behind BARS. there is no justifcation, for his actions. It's so sad.
This is such a sad and disturbing story. It's horrible that this man is still being paid (with tax money no less!!). I hope that public opinion will drive him from his position. Sick.....
I hope he burns in hell.
Anyone who did this to my dog would not have to worry about the legalities of what he did. He wouldn't be alive to worry about that.
This makes me sick. There is no excuse for such cruelty. I hope he is found guilty. Keep your children away from this man. If he would do something this cruel to a dog, what other horrors would he do?
How does an ass hole get a job as a fire chief assistant, that's what really scares me. This arrogant piece of S*#T is no more than a low life scum bag that needs to be beatin with chain until he slips into a coma or even better he suffers a spinal injury and is paraylized from the neck down.
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