I’d like to dissect another fatal shooting that occurred in
my area earlier this year. This situation
had a different, arguably better, outcome than the Miller v. Mulhall incident
in Flagler Beach.
Here are the cast of characters and the particulars:
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Willie Chester.
Dog owner.
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Dan Daley.
Neighbor to Chester and complainant.
Lives 2 houses away from Chester.
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Upon hearing Chester’s dogs bark, Daley walked to
Chester’s residence and requested that Chester quiet his dogs.
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After making that request, Daley walked away.
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As Daley was walking away, Chester attacked
Daley from behind and began “beating on him” according to eye witnesses.
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Daley yelled for help and the struggle
continued.
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Daley was seriously injured in the assault.
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Daley drew a .380 semi-automatic pistol and shot
Chester dead, ending the assault.
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Original news article: http://www.ocala.com/article/20120204/ARTICLES/120209861?p=2&tc=pg
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Follow up news article, Daley not charged: http://www.ocala.com/article/20120210/articles/120219986?p=2&tc=pg
Note that eye-witnesses corroborate the story. Daley was clearly assaulted in the street,
from behind, by an enraged Chester. Daley’s actions were protected by Florida’s “stand your ground” laws
in that you are not required to turn your back to a violent attacker. It was unlikely that Daley would have been
able to turn or flee in any case. If Daley had
not been “packing” he would be dead. Would that have been a desirable outcome?
I am also contemplating the point that Daley had ALREADY
been assaulted by Chester due to the fact that Chester had been raising the
noise level in Daley’s home without permission.
Gun control and self-defense issues aside, this case as
well as Miller vs. Mulhall demonstrate that complaining to anyone about
their dog face to face is a grave mistake that can have deadly consequences. Unfortunately, the “protocol” in many places
is to demand that you “work things out” with the dog owner before authorities
will take any action. If that is the
case in your jurisdiction, print off the above news article as well as the link
to the Mulhall murder and quote those to your authorities. Tell them you’ll be glad to visit the dog
owner in person WITH a police officer in attendance.
I again ask the question:
What drove Chester into such a total rage about the complaint? Even if Daley was making a frivolous
complaint, how difficult would it have been for Chester to simply tell Daley to
get lost? Again, I believe that Daley
had challenged Chester’s status as dog owner and all of the empowerments that
go with it: “How DARE you ask me to not
create endless noise pollution! Adapt
to suit me, or die!”. Chester thought
that his special protections included attacking anyone who spoke out against
his dog.
I'd like to dissect some of the original article comments. One
commenter had an out of control Akita that barked incessantly but wrote it off
to “dogs will be dogs”. They also said
that they “don’t let it bother them”. How extraordinarily civil of them to only commit crimes that they LIKE to commit, vs. crimes that they don't like committing! I guess it would be REALLY bad if the offense actually offended the offender!
So, I suppose we should be ALL forced to adapt to THEIR
lifestyle choice to harbor a noxious pet?
The fact that THEY are not bothered by THEIR own behavior or the actions
of fellow sociopaths just makes everything A-OK? Well, Golly Gee! I guess the entire community environment only
exists for THEM to destroy! These
people are SO impossibly stupid they are not even funny. They insult the intelligence of everyone down
to the level of plant life with their mindless drivel. They are so impossibly selfish and stupid
they are not even worth debating.
As I pointed out in excuse #10: They claim they have no control over their
dog’s vocalizations but indeed there is PLENTY they can do: They can affix an anti-bark collar, they can
house the dog indoors, they can have the dog surgically debarked OR they can
simply choose to NOT have a dog in the first place! The vast majority of these people have to
true interest in owning a dog. These
excuses insult our intelligence. CONTROL
YOUR DOG.
Back to the original point, why is approaching any of
these miscreants such a dangerous proposition?
For the simple reason that creating unlimited useless noise pollution
strictly for its own sake is by definition a hostile, aggressive, anti-social
act, and only hostile, aggressive, anti social individuals commit these
acts. It would logically follow that anyone who
would do those things might be expected to behave violently with little or no provocation.
DON’T complain to your neighbors face about their
dog. Call them or send a certified
letter if need be, but avoid the face to face.
Quiet Tasmania, an anti-barking website in Australia at www.quietas.net endorses the advice above to avoid confronting any neighbour about his barking dog.
ReplyDeleteThis procedure, so foolishly recommended by many so-called Animal Control authorities in order to minimise their own involvement, is fraught with risk - although we know that on some occasions it can produce remedial results without serious rancour.
However we also know that there will always be an undercurrent of ill-feeling of indefinite duration because so many dog owners have the view that their dog can do anything it likes.
The psychological explanation for this is that the owner demands that society provides him with same self-perceived "right" for himself.
this is most likely the same willie chester and he is a repeat violent felon, who also has a domestic violence history.
ReplyDeletei doubt that it took much to push this fucktard over the edge. i don't think chester is the typical barking dog owner. however, you never really know who your neighbor is and it is just plain irresponsible for the police to push this back onto those who are being tortured by barking dogs.
chester's wife/ex-wife?
i would love to know what kind of dog this idiot owned.
btw, it is my opinion that mr daley did his neighbors and the state of florida a favor.
i don't know why his wife's link would not work.
ReplyDeletehttp://florida.arrests.org/Arrests/Sharmaine_Chester_5449691/
One of the things that animal control or the police often ask, Have you went over to talk to the people that own the pet and ask them to quiet it down?
ReplyDeleteHaving been a Police officer some years ago in the city of Oakland California, I never advised anyone to talk to their neighbor about a noisy dog, because I knew then based upon inner city neighborhoods you are going to get hurt by the owner. He/she is in a urban environment lives with noise, so the dog barking to them is just the way it is. Your the problem so you are going to either have the dog turned on you when you least expect it, or get assaulted or both.
In suburbia they are going to ignore you, so the bottom line is either way, it doesn't work and most police and animal control are aware of it but barking is a low priority to both agencies that by nature are a dogs friend. Animal control houses them and the Police have a K9 unit. They have a conflict of interest.
In several years of tracking barking news stories, I've found that the "talk to your neighbors" meme is quite common. It's as if the authorities assume that the neighbors are all nice people who just aren't aware that their dog is making such a racket.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is that many of these people are like the profile of the recalcitrant dog owner that Dr. Craig Mixon has on his BarkingDogs.net website. Which makes the "talk to your neighbors" advice useless.
Furthermore, I know people who've tried talking to the neighbors. In one case, the peace and quiet-seeking neighbor felt in fear for her life.