What is the punishment when a police K9 is killed? Here’s what MS Coast man faces.
The suspect accused of killing a man before shooting to death a police dog during a foot pursuit in Jackson County now faces a federal animal cruelty charge.
Mitchell Wayne Robinson, 33, was charged with animal crushing Wednesday in the killing of Pascagoula K-9 officer Exo.
“He (Exo) is a hero in my eyes,” Pascagoula Police Chief Matt Chapman said. “He saved the (Jackson County) officer’s life. If he hadn’t got shot, it probably would have been the K-9 handler or one of the other officers out there who would have been hit.”
Exo’s death came while he and his handler were tracking a suspect on June 23 into a wooded area in the Helena community of Jackson County. During the pursuit, a suspect, later identified as Robinson, fired shots at the officer and hit the dog twice in the chest, Sheriff Mike Ezell said in a press release.
Robinson is also charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Christopher Joiner and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The charge of animal crushing carries a potential penalty of not more than seven years in prison and a fine.
Mississippi’s punishments are weak when it comes to animal cruelty and Chapman would like to see that changed.
Legislators “need to work to strengthen our laws for K-9 officers,” he said. “There’s not much teeth to them right now and we need to work on that for our K-9 officers.”
District Attorney Angel McIlrath acknowledged as much in an email to the Sun Herald and said she is working to change that.
“We need stronger animal cruelty laws,” she said. “We are in contact with local legislators concerning this need, including strengthening the laws for the injuring and killing of K9-Officers.”
She said once the investigation is complete all the charges will be brought to the grand jury.
