Family Says Deputy Eric Grundeman Shot their Family Dog

COLLIER COUNTY

A Golden Gate Estates family says a deputy shot their dog. But officials with the sheriff's office say it was only because the dog was threatening the deputy.

Wrinkles, a Rottweiler mix, was allegedly shot by Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Grundeman.

A spokeswoman with the Collier County Sheriff's Office said Grundeman went to the family's house on 47th Avenue Wednesday night after learning about a broken down vehicle.

The deputy claims the dog lunged at him in a threatening manner. He says that is why he shot Wrinkles once with his service weapon.


Family members took him to an animal clinic where he was treated for a punctured lung and released.

The family says it is still puzzled by the deputy's actions.

"I think [deputies] are here to help, not to do things like this - it's not right. They came on to our property to help us supposedly with another situation, making it worse. Now my dog that I've had for 8 years, he could have been gone because of this incident," said dog owner Brendi Gutierrez.

We spoke to Deputy Grundeman on the phone. But all he would say was, "You'll have to take it up through the chain of command."

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says it will conduct an internal investigation. For now though, Grundeman is not under any form if administrative leave.


As for Wrinkles' family members, they say they're planning on pressing charges.


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