Dog’s death during traffic stop starts a furor
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The death of a dog in Texas has stirred up a frenzy on the Internet. The Austin American-Statesman has some of the details of Missy’s passing and reaction to the San Marcos patrol officer who pulled over the car driven by her owners--who were speeding as they tried to get their ailing pet to a vet.
On Aug. 5, officer Paul Stephens stopped Michael Gonzales for driving 95 mph on Interstate 35 — 30 miles above the speed limit. The reason for speeding? Gonzales and his girlfriend, Krystal Hernandez, were taking their dog, who was choking on food, to a veterinarian in nearby New Braunfels. The couple said the dog died during the approximately 20-minute stop. Stephens stopped Gonzales after chasing the couple’s car for about two miles, city officials said, as it swerved across three lanes. During the stop, Stephens chastised Gonzales for speeding, telling the distraught man that it was just a dog and that he could get another one, according to footage from patrol car cameras. Several other officers responded to the incident, and Hernandez was heard on the footage pleading with them to let them go. After reviewing Stephens’ behavior, Police Chief Howard Williams apologized to the couple in a letter. Stephens will undergo counseling at the department and received a reprimand.
Texas media report that the officer involved has been the target of death threats. Susan Naraiz, the Mayor of San Marcos, said that ‘this is a sad situation for all concerned, but it does not warrant death threats.’