Police Mocked Innocent Black Man as K-9 Fatally Mauled Him

Fatal K-9 Attack and False Burglary Call

• 💔 The family of Joseph Lee Pedway, 51, has filed an appeal after a lawsuit against the city of Montgomery, Alabama, was dismissed following his death from a K-9 attack during a false burglary call.
• 🚨 Montgomery police responded to a call about an intruder at Gary Dixon's home, unaware that Pedway was a friend and coworker who had been hired to repair the house.
• 🏠 Pedway returned to the vacant house early in the morning and knocked before entering, but Dixon, mistaking him for an intruder, called the police.

Police Protocol Violations and Lack of Aid

• 🐶 Officer Nicholas D. Barber arrived with a K-9 and, without communication, allowed the dog into the house where it attacked Pedway, biting his thigh and rupturing his femoral artery.
• 🩸 The K-9 held its bite for nearly two minutes, causing severe bleeding, and by the time the dog was pulled away, Pedway was unconscious.
• 🚫 City policy prohibited officers from rendering aid to injured citizens without prior medical training, preventing them from applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Mockery and Disregard for Life

• 🚶‍♂️ Four to five officers stood over Pedway's unconscious body, using flashlights to illuminate him as his blood pooled, while joking and laughing about his condition.
• 🗣️ Comments heard included "I guess he's okay," "Well, okay is a relative term. He's still breathing," and "I bet he's rethinking all of his life decisions right now," followed by laughter.
• ⏳ Paramedics took 14 minutes to arrive, which was too late to save Pedway's life, despite medical experts stating that applying pressure within five minutes could have saved him.

Legal Appeal and Cultural Issues

• ⚖️ The appeal argues the city is responsible due to its failure to train officers in first aid and its explicit policy forbidding aid to injured citizens.
• 🔒 A judge blocked the release of the body camera footage, citing potential civil unrest, but the attorney argues the footage reveals a disturbing police culture of disregard for human life.
• 💬 The discussion highlights the depraved mindset and disregard for humanity shown by the officers, questioning why policies are selectively applied and emphasizing that saving a life should supersede any policy.