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A San Bernardino County family is demanding justice after a sheriff’s deputy allegedly stormed into their backyard during a stolen vehicle investigation and fatally shot their dog — a case now escalating into a legal battle with accusations of misconduct and a stunning lack of transparency by law enforcement.
The confrontation unfolded May 4 just before noon, when a deputy with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was investigating a reported stolen car in a neighborhood where resident Jesus Serna lives.
Authorities later determined the vehicle had no connection to Serna or his home.
Surveillance video obtained by The California Post shows the deputy opening a gate and entering Serna’s backyard without consent.
One dog, Raven, approached calmly and appeared friendly, wagging her tail.
Seconds later, Serna’s rottweiler, Daisy, began barking and moved toward the deputy.
Within moments of the encounter, the deputy opened fire, killing the dog.
Serna was not home at the time and said he later received a call from authorities informing him what had happened.
“She was just defending her home,” Serna told KTLA of Daisy. “I asked why they were there and they told me it was due to a vehicle being near my home that was stolen. They attempted to knock on my door and then they let themselves in.”
Serna said he was given an apology but still has received no clear explanation for why lethal force was used.
Attorney Tim Scott, who is representing Serna, said the footage has only intensified concerns about how the situation was handled.
“The fact is, no care was given Daisy as she died slowly; so either the deputy violated policy, or the policies themselves are inadequate,” he told The Post.
“If mail carriers and Amazon drivers can do their jobs without killing pets, that’s not too much to ask of our law-enforcement officers,” Scott said.
Scott also described disturbing moments allegedly captured on video after the shooting.
“At one point, one deputy is joking to the other saying, ‘Yeah, well that’s what you have to do, killing the f****** dog,’” Scott said of the footage.
Serna said what he witnessed from the aftermath added to his distress.
“I didn’t see any emotion from any of them towards [Daisy],” he said. “They just picked her up and carried her away like she was yesterday’s trash.”
According to Serna, deputies later allowed him to view body camera footage, but he said it still failed to explain or justify why the shooting occurred.
Scott further accused authorities of mishandling Daisy’s remains and blocking the family’s ability to conduct their own independent review.
The family has now filed a formal claim against the sheriff’s department, a required step before pursuing a federal civil rights lawsuit.
“The Sheriffs’ deputies unlawfully removed Daisy’s body, and allowed her remains to be destroyed before the family could recover them. It was no coincidence that destroying her remains also prevented us from doing any forensic analysis.”
He also claimed officials have refused to release key records tied to the case, raising further questions about transparency.
“All evidence surrounding Daisy’s death—including bodyworn camera footage, police reports, and even the most basic incident information—has been withheld despite lawful public records requests. This lack of transparency has made this incident even more outrageous and painful for the Serna family.”
Serna is now calling for accountability, including disciplinary action and systemic changes in how law enforcement handles encounters with pets.
“I do want justice,” he said. “I also don’t want to see someone lose their job. I know people have family to take care of, but they haven’t said anything yet, haven’t said the guy’s name. I do want some accountability, some disciplinary action. I want answers for his actions.”
The deputy involved has not been publicly identified and remains on duty while the investigation continues.
“They described it as horrific, it was like seeing a family member murdered on video, because that’s exactly what Daisy was—a member of the family,
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