Two dangerous pit bull dogs shot dead by police in Coventry

[dutchman]

Police carried out a warrant during an early morning raid and found two dangerous dogs at the house

Two dangerous dogs have been shot dead by armed police at a house in Coventry.

It came as officers carried out a warrant during a dawn raid at a property in Harnall Lane East, Hillfields, at around 4.30am today.

On arrival to the property, two pit bull type dogs were found acting aggressively.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “It was felt the dogs posed a genuine danger to officers, with the potential to seriously injure someone.

“Specialists from our dog unit attempted to secure them but it wasn’t possible to get close enough without putting police or the wider public at risk, so both were shot dead by armed officers.

“A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a prohibited dog and is currently in custody.”

A resident who lives nearby said: “I woke up hearing what sounded like fireworks/explosions and lots of aggressive shouting so rushed to the window to find armed police aiming at the top window.

“And there were police around the back too. I thought the worse assuming it must have been an armed raid or drug related crime on my doorstep.

“I was relieved to read the story this morning that it was a dog shooting.

“Though that is still alarming that we have dangerous dogs just across the road from us.

“That’s a threat to the community, and I’m glad the police have got rid of them.”

[dutchman]

Man charged with possessing gun and fighting dog after Hillfields police raid



A man has been charged with possessing a fighting dog and a gun after a police raid in Coventry which saw two dangerous dogs shot dead.

Officers carried out the dawn raid in Harnall Lane East, Hillfields , on Thursday and shot the pair of pit bull type dogs as they posed a “genuine danger” to police at the scene.

Adam Bickley, aged 24, was arrested at the scene and taken in to police custody to be quizzed by detectives.

He has now been charged with possession of a firearm, possession of cannabis and possession of a fighting dog.

He is due to appear before Coventry magistrates today.