Once again, consider yourselves warned: the following video contains disturbing footage.
The Hawthorne Police Department has released a second look at the grisly/viral incident from June 30, in which a man who was taunting the police is placed in handcuffs, only to watch helplessly as an officer shoots his dog.
Shot from a different angle, this video shows the owner, Leon Rosby, screaming at the cops on the street, while also depicting an officer reaching his hand toward the Rottweiler before firing four shots.
"This video will help us tremendously regarding [Rosby’s] actions prior to his arrest," said public information officer Lt. Scott Swain, who sent the video to The Huffington Post. "You can see the officer gives out his hand to let the dog sniff it and tries to grab the leash."
Not everyone agrees with that assessment, of course.
Why couldn’t the officers temporarily release Rosby, considering he was already cuffed and his actions did not make him a dangerous criminal? Why did they need to fire four bullets at the dog?
"We’re not trained to shoot one shot or to shoot in the leg. You’re always trained to shoot multiple shots," Swain said. "Firing a gun is a last resort. We’re trained to eliminate the threat, and that’s a judgment call on the officers."
According to a police statement, Rosby was arrested for "interference with officers," a charge based on the music coming from his car, along with his walking for an 80-pound canine in proximity of a crime scene.
He "created an increasingly dangerous situation and demanded officers’ focus away from the matter at hand," the report reads.
Rosby is due in court on August 12 for arraignment. If convicted of interference, he could up to a year in county jail.
Swain, meanwhile, acknowledged that police officers may need to consider some kind of dog training in the future.