The dog was one of two that had gotten loose from a home on Leland Avenue and police were called by residents who reported the dogs were being aggressive and chasing people trying to get to church.
A 9-1-1 caller told the dispatcher she was sitting in her car for a prolonged time waiting for her chance to run into the church.
Dayton officers arrived and attempted to corral the dogs back into their yard, but the dogs could not be confined because the yard was only partially fenced. One of the dogs was fatally shot when it charged at one of the officers, according to the Dayton police report.
Sgt. Creigee Coleman said the officer had no choice but to pull the trigger.
“We do not want to shoot dogs,” Coleman said. “People think we come on scene, that's the first thing we want to do. A lot of the officers here, they have dogs, they have pets. Pets are like family to certain people so they didn't want to have to shoot this dog.”
Neighbors tell us the dog that was shot was known to be aggressive. The second dog was taken to the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center.
The owner, who police have not located and interviewed, could face some fines.
EARLIER
Police in Dayton tell us an officer shot and killed one of two dogs that were reportedly chasing people who were on their way to church.
It happened around 8:30 a.m. in the area of Hoover and Leland avenues. There were witnesses as folks were streaming in for Sunday services at two nearby churches — True Christian Missionary Baptist Church and Wayman AME Church.
Sgt. Creigee Coleman said officers responded to the report that two stray dogs were chasing parishioners. One of the dogs charged at one of the officers and that officer was forced to shoot, Coleman said.
The other dog ran away and it could not be located.
WHIO’s Allyson Brown is gathering more details for a full report during the 6 p.m. Newscast.
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