Earlier this week DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris issued a press release stating that a deputy attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a residence in Dogtown in DeKalb County was forced to shoot and kill a dog and wounded another after he said the dogs became aggressive with him.

The owner of the dog shot and killed is speaking out about the situation and needless to say he’s is not very pleased about the incident.

Van Akins said he and his wife were traveling to Tampa, Florida when the animal was shot. Mr. Akins told WEIS Radio News that he voluntarily turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office on Thursday for a warrant that had been taken out by his son.

While at the jail, Akins said that he didn’t receive so much as an apology or an explanation as to why his Boxer Gypsy was killed.

The entire incident was captured on the deputy’s body cam according to the press release, WEIS Radio News requested a copy of the video but we were told that due to the ongoing investigation it was not being released.

Akins Doberman (pictured left) was also wounded in the incident but survived.  There are signs clearly visible at the entrance of the property (pictured above left) warning that there are dogs on the premises, Mr. Akins said he just wants to know why the deputy didn’t just simply leave after feeling threatened when there was clearly nobody at home or why non lethal force was not used instead.

DeKalb County Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson said that all of their deputies are equipped with body cameras for incidents like this and after reviewing the tape with the Assistant Chief Deputy and the Sheriff they have ruled that the deputy acted properly in this situation.

Edmondson went onto say that it’s a bad situation to have to take any animal’s life but officer’s safety is top priority.

The State Bureau of Investigations and the District Attorney’s Office have been called in to lead the investigation.

We’ll provide updates on the case as additional information becomes available.