DEKALB DEPUTY HITS AND KILLS FAMILY’S DOG; DRIVES OFF WITHOUT STOPPING
In DeKalb County, Tennessee, a family is seeking accountability after a sheriff’s deputy struck and killed their 17-year-old deaf and blind rescue dog, Rey, in their driveway and drove away without immediately assisting.
The incident began when a delivery driver reported his vehicle damaged by dogs and called 911; the deputy responded, tasered the aggressive barking dogs to keep them at bay, knocked on the door with no answer, and then drove off slowly at 9 mph as the three dogs chased his patrol car. Dash camera footage captured Rey running in front of the vehicle, being run over by both front and back tires; the deputy, seeing the dog’s leg flinch in his rearview mirror but fearing bites from the other dogs, continued driving and informed a neighbor, who contacted owner Brad Talley.
Talley arrived home to find Rey dead in a pool of blood, expressing devastation over the loss of his family member. Body camera video showed the deputy later returning and apologizing. Sheriff Patrick Ray reviewed all footage, including the family’s security video, deemed it an unfortunate accident with no fault on the deputy’s part due to the dogs’ aggressive pursuit, and imposed no consequences.
While Talley acknowledges it was accidental and not intentional, he believes the deputy’s lack of care—failing to stop and help—warrants repercussions like a suspension, and he argues the entire event was avoidable; he buried Rey in her favorite yard spot and now lavishes extra affection on his remaining dogs, emphasizing that pets are family and their loss is profoundly painful.
