Investigation

Deputies shooting dogs; owner wants accountability

Lee Deputies shot 27 dogs in past 3 years

By Mike Mason

CREATED Dec. 3, 2012

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  • A Lee County Deputy still under fire tonight, more than a year after shooting a neighbor's dog. The deputy claims he was protecting his livestock but the dog's owner doesn't buy it ... and wants to know why he was never disciplined. Four in your Corn Video by fox4now.com

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 LEE COUNTY - A Lee County Deputy still under fire tonight, more than a year after shooting a neighbor's dog. The deputy claims he was protecting his livestock but the dog's owner doesn't buy it ... and wants to know why he was never disciplined. Four in your Corner investigator Mike Mason getting answers tonight. 

 
We found Lee County Deputies have shot dozens of dogs in the past few years....some owners feel officers went way too far but according to Florida law -- there's little they can do.  We want to warn you; some of the pictures in this story may be disturbing.
 
Lee County Deputy Brian Kyle is accused of fatally shooting his neighbor’s dog but he doesn't want to talk about it.
 
Mike Mason: "So you don't want to answer any questions?”
Deputy Brian Kyle: "No sir."
 
In June of 2011, Brian Friedman says Deputy Kyle used a rifle to shoot his Boxer, named “Whitey”.
 
Brian Friedman: "Whitey's buried right here."
 
Friedman says Whitey was deaf and well behaved and Deputy Kyle had no right to shoot him just because he wandered onto his property next door.
 
Brian Friedman: "He said that my dog was on his property attacking his cows." 
 
Florida law protects people who kill a dog if it attacks their cattle. The statute states there has to be satisfactory proof that the dog had been or was killing livestock...and that constitutes a good defense.
 
But Friedman says there's no proof Whitey ever attacked anyone's cows.
 
Brian Friedman: "I would bet my last buck on the fact he did not attack the cows.”
Mike Mason: "So what has been done since then?"
Brian Friedman: "Not a thing."
 
We confronted Deputy Kyle at his North Fort Myers home.
 
Mike Mason: "We just want to ask about the dog that was shot."
Deputy Brian Kyle: "No sir, leave. Leave or I'm calling the Sheriff's Office."
 
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says since Deputy Kyle was off duty this is a civil matter between him and Friedman.
 
This past may; another deadly shooting. While serving a warrant, Deputy Tim Galloway says this yellow lab named “Dogie” charged him, although the dog's owner says he wouldn't hurt a flea. She then asked the Deputy why he did it.
 
Christina Waggoner: "Why'd you shoot my dog, that kind of thing, you know, crying and he goes, 'I don't have to deal with you ma'am' and he walked away from me." 
 
Fox 4 found between June of 2009 and June of 2012, Lee County Deputies shot 27 dogs. Friedman says at the least...he'd like an apology.
 
Brian Friedman: "I'm past the crying phase now, I'm just angry."
 
Animal control officers say Friedman should have kept his dog from going on to the Deputy's property. At this point the only thing he can do is take the case to court and according to Florida Law, dogs are considered property and he can only sue for the actual value of the dog