A federal lawsuit has been filed against a Georgia police officer accused of shooting dead a family’s miniature donkey during a search for a missing child, while the animal’s owner is seeking $1 million from local authorities.
Attorney Christopher McCormick said he had filed the case against Cedartown officer Trenton Ryan Garner in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He has also sent a $1 million legal demand to the Cedartown Police Department, the city’s board of commissioners and the city itself.
The recipients have 30 days to respond to the demand, according to Mr McCormick. The legal action follows the death of HeeHaw, a one-year-old donkey owned by Hannah Israel at Elsberry Riding and Farm in Polk County.
Officer says donkey charged at search team
HeeHaw was shot shortly before 1am on 30 August as officers and search teams looked for a missing 12-year-old girl. The child was later found safe further along Grady Road.
According to a written report by Officer Garner, officers and canine teams were following a trail through woodland and into a pasture when horses became frightened and ran away. He said HeeHaw then charged towards him and a canine handler.
The report states that a Taser was activated in an attempt to deter the donkey. When that failed, Garner said he drew his department-issued handgun and fired a single round, hitting the animal.
He said the shot was intended to prevent injuries to the canine handler and bloodhound team. A drone team from the Rockmart Fire Department was reportedly watching the search from above and told officers it had seen the encounter.
Ms Israel has disputed the description of HeeHaw as aggressive. She said he had been bottle-raised, regularly attended petting zoos and had been socialised around children and adults in nursing homes.
She also said officers entered the pasture without informing her or seeking permission, and that her family spent up to 20 minutes searching in the dark before finding HeeHaw’s body.
Cedartown police chief Jamie Newsome placed Garner on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. No charges have been filed against the officer.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Law Enforcement Division is conducting an independent review. Agriculture commissioner Tyler Harper said the incident would be investigated “thoroughly and impartially” before an appropriate recommendation was made.
The police department has not released body-camera footage. The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the alleged threat posed by HeeHaw and the decision to use lethal force, remain under investigation.
