Police shoot dog while serving warrant

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) - Two Hampton Police officers got quite a surprise Saturday morning while trying to serve a warrant, an angry pit bull.

As officers were trying to serve warrants for the Violation of a Protection Order to 29-year-old Michael Anthony Cleaton around 6:30 a.m., a pit bull broke through a fence and charged at them, according to police. Fearing for their safety the officers shot and killed the dog. The police officers were not injured, but nearby neighbors were shaken up by the shooting.

"It was like just bang, bang, bang like five to six times," Courtney Bond told WAVY.com. "Truthfully, I thought I was dreaming. I heard a round go off," said Bond.

Those are not sounds Bond is used to hearing in her neighborhood in the 1900 block of Andrews Boulevard. After she heard the shots, Bond says she was even more  taken back at what she saw outside her home.

"When I walked out that's when I saw the blood, and the dog collar," said Bond.

The officers say they tried to wait until animal control arrived, but the pitbull kept charging at them.

"I feel bad for the guy that his dog got shot," said Bond.
  
There was no sign of Cleaton, but many reminders of the showdown between police and the pit bull.

"This is the most action Andrews has probably seen in a little while," said Bond.
 
Police say the dog was taken to Animal Control where it was euthanized. The Hampton Police Department is conducting both a criminal and administrative investigation. This is standard in all officer-involved shootings.

If you know anything about Cleaton's whereabouts call the Crimeline at 1-888-LOCK-U-P.

Stay with WAVY.com and Wavy News 10 on air for updates as they become available.