CPD shoots two dogs in drug raid
Columbia Police Department officers shot two dogs while serving a warrant for drug charges, CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said in an e-mail.
CPD served the warrant at about 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and arrested Jonathan Whitworth. He has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug possession, Haden said in the e-mail. Whitworth's wife and child were in the residence at the time of the arrest.
Haden said officers are sometimes forced to shoot animals that are putting officers or other people in danger of physical injury.
"It's not preemptive; that wouldn't be appropriate," Haden said in the e-mail. "It's reactive."
People often restrain their dogs or put them in another room when officers are present, Haden said. When officers came to Whitworth's residence, they knocked loudly three times and announced themselves twice. Haden said not much time transpired before officers entered the home, but it was long enough for the residents to grab the dogs and redirect them or move them out of the way.
A multitude of factors determine when a warrant is served, and Haden said a safe and successful execution of the warrant is the primary concern.
CPD wasn't able to serve the warrant as quickly as they would have liked, mostly due to staffing issues, Haden said in the e-mail.
"We'd never serve a warrant expecting to discover a misdemeanor amount of drugs," Haden said in the e-mail. "That would be a complete waste of time and money. We obtained the warrant because there was good evidence that Whitworth was selling a substantial amount of drugs."
Haden also said if CPD had been able to serve the warrant sooner, arresting officers would have been able to find more drugs.
"It's as frustrating to us as it is to citizens who wonder why resources are given to an operation that seemingly turns up so little," Haden said in the e-mail.