Bodycam shows Ocala officers fire 30 rounds, killing 3 dogs they said were 'aggressive'

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Ocala, FL - Newly released body camera video shows two Ocala police officers shooting and killing three dogs after responding to a call about aggressive behavior.

The officers were reassigned to administrative duties after the shooting in January, according to the Ocala Police Department.

The department said officers responded to a residence on 42nd Road at 3:39 a.m., Jan. 29 after reports of aggressive dogs in the area.

The man who made the call allegedly told officers that three pit bulls chased him and almost bit him while he was in his backyard.

In the body camera video, the man is heard saying, "That one right there is actually trying to dig under [my] screen. Dig in to get in. This is crazy."

Officers encountered three "unrestrained pit bulls acting aggressively and appearing to pose an immediate threat," police said.

The officers were monitoring the dogs that were outside the man's house and waiting for Marion County Animal Control to arrive.

"An early morning jogger that was running towards the dogs, fearing for the joggers safety, one of the officers yelled at the jogger to turn around and go the other way," Chief Mike Balken said during a news conference Wednesday. "Unfortunately, the dogs' attention turned towards our police officers. The dogs ran towards the officers, coming within just a few feet, and it was at that time that our officers fired multiple rounds, striking all three dogs."

Balken said officers fired about 30 rounds at the dogs.

According to police and the body camera video, two of the dogs were injured in the driveway before officers shot them both again to kill them. The third dog ran to the back of the house, where it was ultimately shot and killed after one of the officers chased it.

Balken called the bodycam "difficult video to watch" and said pepper spray should have been used in an attempt to control the dogs.

Both officers received policy violations for use-of-force conduct and will be disciplined, Balken said.

A panel decided the officers' actions in shooting the two dogs in front of the home were justified, but running after the third dog and shooting it in the backyard was not.