Milwaukee Police SWAT Break Into Alleged Drug House, No Drugs Found, But Cop Shoots Dog While 15-year-old Teen Held Him In His Arms

A Milwaukee Police Swat team officer shot a 7-year-old pit bull multiple times while a 15-year-old male teen held the dog in his arms.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 13, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the Milwaukee Police SWAT team broke into a home at the 200 block of S. 60th Street just after 10:00 a.m. and shot a 7-year-old pit bull multiple times while a 15-year-old male teen held him in his arm, according to his mother Tammy Prasnik, 43. Prasnik told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that Thursday morning she and her family went through an ordeal after a Milwaukee Police SWAT team executed an alleged no-knock warrant and one of the officers with an assault rifle fired multiple shots at a family pit bull when it barked while her son, James Juarez, 15, was holding the dog in his arms. James got splattered with the pit bull's blood, but was not injured by police assault rifle fire.

Prasnik says police didn't even identify themselves when they broke into the residence and rushed in. Police later told her that they had a no-knock warrant and apparently read it to her, but she nor any member of the family was provided with a copy. Apparently, police alleged that a neighbor had made a report that it was a drug house and police had been watching the residence, according to Prasnik. Prasnik who is visting Milwaukee from Texas says, that at least 7 members of the family including her, a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old were at the residence and in addition her daughter's boyfriend was also visiting when police broke in. Prasnik's daughter was identified as Beatrice Juarez, 21, who rents the home. All except the toddlers were placed in handcuffs and restraints and taken outside. Anthony Juarez Jr., 23, Damian Krause, 23, and James were placed in a police patty wagon (prisoner transport van) and the rest were allowed to be on the curb as police searched and ransacked the residence. After several hours they were released and no one was taken into custody.

Police found no drugs at the residence indicating it was a false drug house report or their intelligence was flawed. 

The injured pit bull by the name of Muli was taken by the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) and it was later pronounced deceased. 

Prasnik says, Muli, the pit bull was not a theat to police when it was shot while her son held him. Prasnik told HNNUSA that she would like to thank the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) for cremating Muli at no cost, since the decision was based on that it was a senseless dog killing by a Milwaukee police officer.

Prasnik later discovered that Milwaukee Police Officer Lopez who was driving the police patty wagon snapped a photo of Anthony, Damian and James inside the holding area of the van and send the photo to Milwaukee Police Detective Angela Juarez who later confirmed to Anthony, her nephew through Facebook messenger that she indeed received the photo from Officer Lopez. Angela also sent the photo to her brother Arturo Juarez who shared it with others, Prasnik said. Det. Angela is the aunt of both Anthony and James who they haven't seen for some time, Prasnik said.

Prasnik told HNNUSA that she will seek legal advice and will also go to the Milwaukee Police Department to request a copy of the no-knock warrant and the names of the officers involved including any body camera videos of the incident.

The Milwaukee Police Department hasn't released any information about the debunked raid or the shooting of Muli.