A family in San Bernardino County is pursuing justice after a sheriff’s deputy allegedly entered their backyard and fatally shot their dog while looking into a stolen vehicle. This incident has turned into a legal dispute amid accusations of misconduct and a troubling lack of transparency from law enforcement.
The incident took place just before noon on May 4 as deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were investigating a stolen car in the vicinity of Jesus Serna’s residence.
Later, officials confirmed that the stolen vehicle was not connected to Serna or his home.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the California Post shows the deputy entering Serna’s yard without permission. Initially, one of Serna’s dogs, Raven, approached the deputy in a friendly way, but shortly after, Daisy, their Rottweiler, began barking and moved towards the deputy.
Almost immediately after the encounter, shots were fired, and Daisy was killed.
Serna stated he was away when the shooting happened but got a call from law enforcement informing him of the situation. “Daisy was just protecting her home,” he explained. When he inquired about the reason for the deputy’s presence, they mentioned a stolen vehicle nearby and said they had tried knocking on his door before entering the backyard.
While he received an apology, Serna still has not gotten a satisfactory answer as to why such deadly force was employed.
Tim Scott, attorney for Serna, pointed out that the video raises serious concerns about the actions of law enforcement in this case. “Daisy died slowly, and no care was given to her. Either the deputy broke protocol or the existing policy is lacking,” he remarked.
Scott also recounted unsettling moments caught on video post-shooting. “One deputy joked to another, ‘Yeah, that’s what kills a fucking dog,'” he said.
Serna expressed his anguish over the deputies’ lack of emotion, describing how they carried Daisy away “like yesterday’s trash.”
Next steps include filing a formal complaint with the Sheriff’s Department, which is a prerequisite for pursuing a federal civil rights lawsuit. Scott criticized how the deputies handled Daisy’s remains, suggesting that their actions hindered the family’s ability to seek justice by denying them forensic analysis of the body.
Moreover, the family has faced resistance in obtaining crucial records related to the incident, which raises serious questions about transparency surrounding Daisy’s death. “All evidence related to Daisy’s death, including body camera footage and police reports, has been withheld despite valid public records requests. This obscurity just heightens the anguish for the Serna family,” Scott noted.
Serna is demanding accountability and systemic changes in how law enforcement interacts with animals during similar situations. “I want justice,” he stated, adding that while he doesn’t wish for anyone to lose their job, he does want some accountability for the actions taken. The deputy in question has not been named publicly and remains on duty as the investigation is ongoing.
Describing the emotional impact, Serna noted, “It was horrifying, like watching a family member get killed on video—because that’s what Daisy was, a family member.”
