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Burlington Dog Deemed "Not Vicious"

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Matty Ring

A dog connected to an officer-involved shooting in Burlington will be returned to its owner. This comes after the city's Animal Hearing Board voted unanimously that Sammy, a 7-year-old German Shepard/Collie mix was not vicious.
The hearing, Wednesday night, was held at the request of the Burlington Police Department. The agency said the dog bit one of its officers when he responded to a domestic disturbance in the 100-block of S. Garfield Ave. in early January.

While on the scene, Officer Jesse Hill fired his weapon twice, striking and killing Autumn Steele, 34.  The dog, who belongs to the Steele family, was also shot.

The dog has been at the Des Moines County Animal Shelter ever since.

The hearing lasted about 90 minutes. During it, questions were raised as to whether the officer was bitten before he fired his weapon.

The police department said it presented a dog bite report and additional evidence to the bite as evidence in the hearing.  That information is part of an ongoing investigation, so the department said it cannot be made public.

Des Moines County Attorney Amy Beavers has yet to announce whether Officer Hill will face charges in connection with the death of Autumn Steele.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.