A San Bernardino County family has filed a formal claim against the Sheriff's Department following the fatal shooting of their Rottweiler, Daisy, by a deputy during a stolen vehicle investigation on May 4. The family alleges misconduct, lack of transparency, and mishandling of the dog's remains.
The incident occurred when a deputy entered the family's backyard as part of an investigation into a stolen car in the neighborhood. Surveillance video shows the deputy opening a gate and entering the property without consent. While another dog, Raven, approached calmly, Daisy began barking and moved toward the deputy, who then opened fire, killing the dog.
Authorities later determined the stolen vehicle had no connection to the Serna residence. Jesus Serna, the dog's owner, was not home at the time but was informed of the incident by authorities. He stated he received an apology but no clear explanation for the use of lethal force.
"She was just defending her home," Serna told KTLA, referencing 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."
According to attorney Tim Scott, who represents the Serna family, the footage raises concerns about the deputy's actions and departmental policies. "The fact is, no care was given Daisy as she died slowly; so either the deputy violated policy, or the policies themselves are inadequate," Scott said.
Scott also alleged that after the shooting, one deputy was heard joking about killing the dog. Serna reported that the deputies showed no emotion towards Daisy and handled her body dismissively.
The family claims that the sheriff's deputies unlawfully removed Daisy's body and allowed her remains to be destroyed before an independent forensic review could be conducted. Scott stated that this prevented any analysis of the incident. Furthermore, the family asserts that authorities have withheld key records, including body-worn camera footage and police reports, despite public records requests.
"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,” Scott said.
Serna is seeking accountability, including disciplinary action for the deputy involved and systemic changes in how law enforcement interacts with pets during investigations. The deputy has not been publicly identified and remains on duty pending the ongoing investigation.
The filing of the claim is a prerequisite to filing a federal civil rights lawsuit.