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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Video: Mesquite police officer pepper sprayed a squirrel on school property
He believed it might have a disease, but some students were upset by it.
MESQUITE — According to a story first reported by CBS, a Mesquite police officer pepper sprayed a squirrel at Kimbrough Middle School on Wednesday sometime after school finished for the day. Students took video of the incident, which was titled “baby squirrel abuse” and was posted online. It's also posted below.
Sgt. Wes Talley, spokesperson for the Mesquite Police Department, says that the officer believed the squirrel was causing harm to the students. “I think that he was doing what he thought was necessary to protect the students. The squirrel was acting in an unusual manner,” Talley said. “He was trying to keep the squirrel away from the kids.”
Ian Halperin, district spokesperson for Mesquite ISD, affirmed that statement. “As you can see from the video, this squirrel was not running away,” he said. The fact that the animal was not afraid of people likely led the officer to believe something was wrong with the animal, Halperin said. But students in the video sounded like they didn't want the squirrel harmed.
After the squirrel was pepper sprayed, animal control “cleaned it up, cared for it, and released it back into the wild,” Talley said. The squirrel is alive.
As of today, Mesquite ISD does not plan on alerting parents to the situation. “Generally, we only do that when there's a specific threat to student safety, and we didn't think this was a threat to student safety,” Halperin said.
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Vic Savelli, staff:
The poor thing probably was thinking the officer had food! I guess they couldn't think of something really innovative like throwing a towel over it!
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Teresa Gubbins, staff:
way to set an example for the kids. can't believe such a big cop would be so intimidated by such a small thing
hopefully that squirrel has now learned that it is wise to avoid Mesquite police like the plague
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mjdio, anonymous:
Squirrels are creepy. I probably would have done the same thing.
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Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
wise to avoid Mesquite police like the plague
I can just imagine an arsenal of squirrels at their monthly meeting, with the Chief Squirrel pointing with his laser pen a map of the "no-go" areas.
Quick, someone copyright this stuff before Pixar steals our ideas.
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bethfuller, anonymous:
Get a real life people. The squirrel could very well have been rabid. A normal squirrel would not keep walking towards people, especially towards a large, loud group of people like the kids behind the officer that were taping him.
I hate to see the squirrel sprayed too, but can easily imagine all you sniveling animal lovers screaming for his head on a stick if this squirrel had run over and bitten someone and given them rabies!
Tell the kids to shut up and grow up.
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leahbyrd, anonymous:
switch to decaf officer!
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ekwilmoth, anonymous:
Being a current KMS student, Officer Davis is one of the most inspiring adults at the school. The animal was running up to some of my friends, and know one knew what kind of diseases this animal had. Officer Davis should not be punished because what he did was just protecting us. This has gotten WAY out of hand.
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feildtrip, anonymous:
I thought it was against federal law to abuse animals of any size. I cant beleive he got away with this with no punishment at all.
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indiekitten, anonymous:
wow, seeing the squirrel squirm around after getting sprayed breaks my heart. I'm guessing that it was familiar with people after getting frequent snacks from the kids at lunch time or on the playground. Well, you can bet it will stay away from people now. poor thing.
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tym4chayng, anonymous:
What a total jerk! Probably doesn't have a girlfriend and was taking his frustrations out on the baby squirrel. Lay off the donuts tubby! Ya might have a chance!
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outsource.congress@gmail.com, anonymous:
Good grief. There had to be a better way to handle this. A towel, stomping his feet and running at it, anything. It never occurred to this rocket scientist that the squirrel didn't run away because he lives on a school ground and is socialized to people. Spraying the poor thing with pepper spray is grounds for animal cruelty charges. Officer Davis probably beats his wife when he gets home, too. Jerk.
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nomza, anonymous:
I am from Australia and when I visited Austin I was mistakenly sprayed with pepper spray by a police officer. It is extremely painful. I am SHOCKED and absolutely disgusted by this behaviour, the animal posed little to no threat of harm. Officer Davis, your actions are being shown around the world, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Nothing like this would happen in Australia. I must say, I fell in love with Texas - but the abuse of pepper spray by officials that I see in the state makes me never want to go back
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Jason Rice, verified:
Nomza, you misunderstand. Artists, engineers, authors and various trained professionals from other countries here temporarily or professionally are abused as a matter of policy. If, however, you walk across our southern border wearing a straw hat, you are handed a bag of money and a falsified Social Security Card. Hope that makes it easier next time you visit.
As for a charging squirrel.... um this is a wild animal in a region known for rabies: a small rodent prey quickly approaching a large and obvious predator. Given the choice of humiliation on Youtube VERSUS a half dozen 4 inch needles in my belly button and likely death... you'd see this fat boy charge the dang thing with a Messerschmitt.
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asdf425, anonymous:
Jason... hush, child, you're embarrassing the rednecks.
Wearing a uniform is no excuse for a thoughtless use of force that has no basis or justification.
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asdf425, anonymous:
Yep, one hell of a vicious animal. Corral that baby squirrel with whatever lethal force deemed necessary, y'all.
Funny, one would think rednecks would be more familiar with what Rabies actually looks like.
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jjohnson, anonymous:
Hey morons, this cute little creature was supposed to have rabies. That "jerk donut eating tubby" as some have called him was keeping your idiot kids safe. I'm sure your comments would be different if the squirrel had bit one of your little angels and they had to have a long series of shots. Good job Officer Davis.
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jjohnson, anonymous:
Hey morons, this cute little creature was supposed to have rabies. That "jerk donut eating tubby" as some have called him was keeping your idiot kids safe. I'm sure your comments would be different if the squirrel had bit one of your little angels and they had to have a long series of shots. Good job Officer Davis.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
I see your point, Jason. Although, I think the pepper spray was a bit much. Especially considering how easy it is for the wind to pick up that mist and float it into the faces of the children standing nearby.
The complex I moved into several months back is actually owned by squirrels, I think. They have a perfect paradise here to run, play and make lots of babies so I have learned much about them of late. I never realized what confident, flirty creatures they really are. Just the other day, one little guy saw me and crouched down and did a little back and forth sideways romp, much like a dog would do when playing. I could almost hear him saying "I'm gonna get you!" As surprised (and delighted) as I was, I can't say I felt threatened in any way.
I'm just not sure why a big manly man couldn't have figured out a more rational way of scaring the poor thing away. Surprised he didn't pull out the taser.
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danakaiser, anonymous:
@ Jason Rice........squirrel are NOT known to carries rabies. A case hasnt' happened in the US since the early 20th century and even then it was RARE. I feed the squirrels where I work and the behavior of the poor squirrel in this video mimicks the behavior of the ones I feed. They are just curious and hopeful someone will feed them a nut or two. To condone such abusive behavior by some 'tough' cop, is inexcussible!!!
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g4p5l6, anonymous:
Rabies is a poor, ignorant excuse for this incident. If rabies can be used to justify the above behaviour, it's clear that Mesquite's finest are in need of some basic education.
With the documented exception of woodchucks, rabies is virtually nonexistant in small mammals. This is due to the simple fact that the trauma of a bite is the more serious if not fatal result of a rabid predator attacking a smaller mammal, particularly an infant.
A small dose of human compassion and rational thought on the part of Davis could have made this one of those good news stories, of a random act of kindness.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
If it makes anyone feel better at all, I'm 100% certain the officer is getting teased mercilessly by his comrades and will likely never live this incident down.
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Jason Rice, verified:
Lemme see, which would I rather have emblazoned across my performance report?
1. Overzealous use of pepper spray on rodent.
Oh, yeah, I'd cave to you guys, in a heartbeat.
Matter of fact, I think I'd use pepper on anonymous cowards on message boards too.
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Jason Rice, verified:
Leave it to Tumbles to find furry landlords.
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kuffme1, anonymous:
I think the old fart has dementia, and needs to retire. There was absolutely no need for that poor baby squirrel to be sprayed. That baby squirrel showed no signs of having anything wrong with it, there was no need to spray it!
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danakaiser, anonymous:
Was that an attempt at humor, Jason. I mean no disrespect, but you are mistaken about your information regarding squirrels and rabies.
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Jason Rice, verified:
Dana - squirrels are naturally "rambunctious" --- but IF the squirrel lives long enough after infection by rabies (yes, it happens often enough although they generally die quickly) but IF a squirrel is rabid, the two primary reactions are lethargy and severe aggression.
Not being an expert on the topic of squirrel "affection" or "rambunction" (not a word) I would have voted "aggression" over "lethargy."
<humor> But I vow hence, that upon rapid approach by small animals, undead street people and political activists, I will first Google for their statistical likelihood of various impairments, accumulate a consensus of at least 5 trained professionals and consult my PR firm before defending myself or anyone I might consider to be in my charge.</humor>
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Jason Rice, verified:
I however retain the right to Pepper spray Travis on sight.
--We have that kind of "open" (hostile) relationship.
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Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
HTML jokes are always welcome here, Jason! Funny.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
I must admit, I am rather enjoying watching Jason get the beat-down from the squirrel brigade. I almost feel as sorry for him as I do the little furry guy.
I hope you’ve learned, Jason, never to take up for a big, burly man in uniform who becomes hysterical at the site of a defenseless little creature who, obviously, just needed a hug.
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Jason Rice, verified:
I personally admire the guy's restraint.
I'd have panicked and crushed its head with my heel.
The bonus is that knowing y'all's stance, I don't have to send you people flowers at the hospital if you're ever mauled by a poodle.
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recklesstim, anonymous:
@danakaiser, maybe you need to recheck your facts. According to the CDC there were two reported cases of squirrels with rabies in 2009 (most current report). So yes, squirrels get and carry rabies.
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jtmbls, anonymous:
I rescind my sympathies.
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Jason Rice, verified:
I don't need your squirrel pity.
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Jason Rice, verified:
And speaking of people to never take up for... I've invited Travis. He would share your enjoyment, but he appears to be off "Art-ing" somewhere.
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sarcon, anonymous:
Anybody with half a brain could see the baby squirrel thought he was about to get some goodies. You can bet he never figured on getting pepper sprayed by an idiot with too much time on his hands. The question that should be asked is, how sensible is it to allow this man to run around with a loaded gun? Edgar Bowen NYC
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divndeepsea, anonymous:
I would give my left lef to be able to know the out come of what would happen to the officer if he didn't do anything to the 'poor baby squirrel' and the squirrel bit a kid. I bet everyone on here would be on a witch hunt for the officer's badge and career.
HOW DARE ALL OF YOU FOR BEING A MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK!!!
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What do you think?