A San Bernardino man is calling for accountability after a sheriff’s deputy entered his fenced backyard and fatally shot his rottweiler—a dog he says was protecting its home.
Jesus Serna the incident happened on May 4 when deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a stolen vehicle traced to the 7000 block of Glasgow Avenue in San Bernardino. Serna wasn’t there when it happened, and found out when authorities called him later that day.
According to the sheriff’s department, at around 11:37 a.m. deputies were dispatched to the area following a tip that a stolen vehicle was parked at the Glasgow Avenue address. The report came after Southern California Edison contracted tree cutters found a vehicle blocking their work zone. Workers located a registration sticker on the vehicle’s window, contacted the owner, and that owner then called police, directing them to the Glasgow Avenue address.
In the course of the investigation, a deputy opened a gate and entered Serna’s backyard to search for the vehicle, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department told NTD News in an emailed statement.
Surveillance video captured what followed: The deputy was first approached by Raven, one of Serna’s two dogs, who appeared calm and was wagging her tail.
Moments later, Serna’s five-year-old rottweiler, Daisy, spotted the deputy and began barking. As Daisy moved toward him, the deputy fired his weapon, striking the dog.
Serna said he is heartbroken.
He acknowledged having seen the vehicle before but said it had no ties to him or his property—a fact later confirmed by the sheriff’s department, which stated the stolen vehicle investigation was unrelated to Serna’s home.
After Daisy was fatally shot, deputies took Serna’s other dog, Raven, to a local animal shelter. Serna said he later paid close to $250 to reclaim his surviving dog.
The sheriff’s department confirmed it is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discharge of the firearm, including review of body-worn camera footage and privately recorded video shared on social media.
According to their statement, a supervisor and animal control responded following the shooting.
“The dogs have been with us for five years and are a part of our family,” Serna said.
Serna is calling for disciplinary action against the deputy and says he intends to keep pressing for justice.
