In Durham, North Carolina, the man who shot a K-9 officer in the face pleaded guilty this week, and on Friday was sentenced to supervised probation but will remain in jail for violating federal gun charges.
According to CbsNews, Trey Deshawn Christie, 21, had been wanted in connection with several local thefts in March 2021 when K-9 Daro and police were chasing him for questioning. Christie shot the police dog in the face and fled; Daro suffered serious injuries to his mouth and underwent emergency surgery.
As part of a plea agreement, animal cruelty and some burglary charges were dropped. Durham police and the district attorney defended their decision stating Christie had no previous record.
“This means that an active sentence was legally impossible for the charge of assaulting a law enforcement animal.”
“Under North Carolina laws, acts of animal abuse are among the lowest-level felonies that we have and the most serious offense of assaulting a law enforcement officer is limited to human victims.”
Durham Police Chief Shari Montgomery and Durham DA Satan Deberry
Christie was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation, a suspended sentence of six to 17 months in prison if he violates parole, $500 in restitution to owners of the bicycles he stole, participate in intensive behavior and decision making program and substance abuse assessments. The Durham Police nor the vet treating Daro requested restitution.
The good news is that K-9 Daro made a full recovery and is back on the job.
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