The family of Joseph Lee Pettaway continues to fight for justice seven years after he was killed by a police dog in Montgomery. Their lawsuit against the City of Montgomery, as well as K9 officer Nicholas Barber and former police chief Ernest Finley, was dismissed last year. However, the family has filed an appeal arguing that the lawsuit should be allowed to proceed against the city. The lawsuit claims that the city had an unconstitutional policy that prevented officers from administering first aid to Pettaway as he bled to death on a sidewalk.
The incident occurred in July 2018 when Pettaway was attacked by a police dog named Niko. The lawsuit alleges that the dog clamped down on Pettaway for over two minutes while officers stood by without providing assistance. Pettaway lost consciousness and ultimately died at the hospital. The family’s lawyers argue that the city’s policy of not providing immediate first aid violates the 14th Amendment.
The city has fought to keep the bodycam footage of the incident from being released to the public, citing concerns about “annoyance” and “civil unrest.” The family’s lawyers contend that the city’s policy could have been the “moving force” behind a constitutional violation. The case is now on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, where the outcome remains uncertain. Pettaway’s family hopes that their fight for justice will set a precedent and bring accountability to law enforcement agencies.
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