Skip navigation.
Home » Article Categories » News » Crime


Woman Says Troopers Didn’t Need to Shoot Dog; Police Say Otherwise

Crime | Tue, 03/15/2011 - 5:44 pm | Updated 1 year 9 weeks ago | Read 8666 | Commented 34 | Emailed 2

By Nancy Rump

Pit bull Bruno was shot by State Police executing a search warrant.

WOODBINE – Frances Jefferson said losing her dog Bruno was like losing kin.

“The dog was like an uncle to us,” she said of the pit bull terrier’s role in her family. “He played with my grandbaby. The two were best friends.”

Bruno died Fri., March 4 after being shot by troopers at Jefferson’s borough home. State Police were there executing a search warrant. They said the dog’s death was an unfortunate part of police action that afternoon. Jefferson says her dog was murdered.

According to State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones, the search warrant obtained for Jefferson’s home was part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, and members of the TEAMS unit executed it, not local troopers from the Woodbine station on Franklin Street.

“It was a tactical entry of the home,” Jones said, “part of our efforts to make an arrest for a serious crime, and the dog’s death is a sad result, a very sad result, of those efforts.”

Jefferson, when interviewed, did not deny that the State Police raided her home. She was also not home at the time of the raid, but said her family provided her with details of Bruno’s death. Her 1-year-old granddaughter was not there either, police said.

Arrested that day were Jefferson’s husband, Ronald Jefferson, 61; her son, Damian Fashaw, 38; and her daughter-in-law, Tiffany Geisinger, 37.

Jones said crack-cocaine, marijuana, cash and a weapon were seized from the home at 306 Jefferson Ave. Ronald Jefferson and Geisinger were arrested for drug and weapon possession, he said. And Fashaw was arrested for drug possession and intent to distribute.

The weapon, according to police, was a stun gun, which Jefferson said, ironically, was found by Bruno.

“My husband was walking him one day, and Bruno found it,” she said. “The two of them liked to find and collect old junk like that.”

During the raid, Jones said the pit bull became aggressive towards troopers and was shot.

“We don’t blame the dog for this,” he said. “The dog followed its nature.”

Jefferson believes Bruno was provoked and reacting to what was going on around him.

“He was wary of people, so I don’t believe what they’re saying about him being aggressive,” she said. “He wouldn’t do what they’re saying he did.”

Jefferson, who sought answers from State Police following the raid, said she was told three different stories about the dog’s behavior: one that he lunged at a trooper, another that he bit a trooper, and a third that he snapped at a trooper’s pant leg.

Jones said the dog bit the leg of one trooper and lunged at the face of another.

“The dog could not be controlled and had to be shot,” he said. “It’s not something any trooper wants to do, but circumstances that day forced the action.

“Troopers don’t look to get involved in any type of shooting,” he added, “but they must protect their safety.”

Jones said the TEAMS unit also took precautions that day because the raid involved a target believed to be capable of violence.

At 58, Jefferson said many of her friends have either passed away or moved on.

“I don’t get a lot of company here at my home,” she said. “Bruno was my companion. He was always here, and I felt comfortable with him around.”

The pit bull, she said, had been with the family six years. Jefferson rescued him from an abusive home.

“I never thought I was going to take on a dog at my age,” she said. “But Bruno was special.”

Jefferson said the dog was very good with her granddaughter and that the two often played together.

“She was always running around with him through the house,” she said. “She misses him now and so do I.”

Bruno was shot twice, once in the head, once in the leg, according to Jefferson, but he did not die in the home.

“I’d feel better knowing he didn’t suffer,” she said. “If they’re going to shoot him, kill him. Don’t leave him there suffering.”

Jones confirmed troopers called animal control after the dog was shot, and a veterinarian later made the decision to put Bruno down.

Jefferson plans on having an attorney pursue the matter.

Print | Email Updated 1 year 9 weeks ago

Login or register to post comments

Comments (34)

We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Read our "Policies and Standards for Comments". Please report comments which do not comply with Policies and Standards. When you are logged-in, you will see a "Flag as offensive" button next to each comment.

Fri, 04/08/2011 - 9:36pm - Posted by: fvfashaw

Where were the drugs found? How much did they find? Who was selling the drugs? How much of an investigation was done prior to the raid? Who was the target? If anyone knows the answers to these questions please email me fvfashaw@gmail.com. The truth from the SP is also welcome. I pray that at least one trooper is honest and has asked GOD to forgive him for going along with this crime.

Fri, 04/08/2011 - 9:17pm - Posted by: fvfashaw

I did not say that Bruno was like an uncle to me but my granddaughter Alexus said that. Bruno was like a friend and a son. I still miss him. Sometimes when I enter the house I hear a thump upstairs like he is jumping off my bed. I miss him so much. I have read the comments about me being a terrible grandmother and having bigger problems than losing a dog and that is crap. We all have problems. Anyone who can that they don't can cast the 1st stone. I love my family and would do nothing to hurt them. We were targeted by the SP because my son had an argument with them. He was abused during a traffic phony stop. All that mess that "Jones" the spokesman for the SP said was bs. They laughed at the shooting of Bruno. "Vengeance is mine" saith the LORD. I have prayed to GOD about this incident and I know that GOD will take care of those dog abusers. May GOD bless them.

Sun, 03/27/2011 - 12:15am - Posted by: wbwhiteboy

hi i belive they muder the dog to ****** off mr. fashaw and get him to fight cause they were going to shoot him next can the state police be stopped? they have to much power and to many guns

Sun, 03/20/2011 - 6:18pm - Posted by: whytalk

AMEN randomprimate and zorrosmom!!!!!

Sun, 03/20/2011 - 10:31am - Posted by: randomprimate

I hope Bruno's ghost sets up camp at that cop's house and bites him on the nuts everyday for the rest of his life.

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 9:07pm - Posted by: zorrosmom

I am so tired of seeing these loving dogs fall victim. rest in peace Bruno.As far as the person that said getting a dog that can kill any dog can not just pits or terriers.I find them to be the most loving that is all we have in our family and we are not gun runners or any sort of criminals. In fact my son is a corrections officer.

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 5:27pm - Posted by: jonestown

If it was a "tactical entry of the home" wouldn't the have known the dog was at the house, and waited till it was outside? One less thing to worry about. This happened in colombia MO and the dog was in the cage. kids were in the house too. wouldnt shooting a 40 or 45 at a dog be a little dangerous with the penetration power?

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 11:03am - Posted by: whytalk

Bruno was a beautiful dog. It's a shame what happened to him. Trust the police, I think not!!!

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 10:57am - Posted by: fvfashaw

My name is Damian L. Fashaw. Since my release from State Prison I chilled out. My mother and Tiffany gave me $3950 and I thought flip it or invest it in CDL class. I chose the latter one and went to Bradway Truck Driving School at CCC. and graduated. I took the written test and passed. I failed the CDL drivers test but finally passed and received my CDL drivers license.I went to work for a small but legal trucking Company in Cumberland County until I was laid off the winter. I collected what I was legally supposed to collect for the past 3 1/2 months. I just got hired and maybe fired by a company in in Ocean View as a driver. Let me make this clear, I have not sold crack, weed, heroin, coke, e-pills or any pills to any person in the Woodbine area or in America. Nobody on this post knows the truth; BUT KNOW THIS, YOU ARE LOOKING OR SPEAKING TO ONE RICH MAN! I am sure that no one who commented on this article has a million dollars, but this time next year I WILL. HA, HA, HA (5 TIMES THAT) in my BIG Shirley voice........

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 9:46am - Posted by: whytalk

I love the comment "guest who" wrote defending her family. She really loves her step-mom, grand pop, grand mom, dad, Bruno and sister. Disregard the spelling and see the love. I also know Tiffany. She is a hard worker and does not use drugs or alcohol. She loves her step-children and her baby and would protect them fiercely from anything/anyone. This charge has upset and worried her, as well as the the loss of Bruno. Bruno was in another room when he was shot and the police should be charged with animal cruelty. If they had a legal search warrant and had been investigating this house then they should have known they had a dog and allowed them to put the dog up or had the right equipment to safely remove him. I guess they did have the right equipment; A GUN! . Why did it take so long before this story hit the paper? Why did the police try to hide discharging the weapon in their home? Poor family, my heart goes out to them. Thank you CMC Herald for writing this story.

Sat, 03/19/2011 - 8:24am - Posted by: iluvdogs

1st of all I believe half of what I read in the papers. Bruno was an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier not a pitbull. From sources that are very close to the family said the police found nothing but a joint and a granule of cocaine in the bed of a truck and they don't know where it came from. I believe them. As far as the baby, she is a happy, well developed child. I see her in school. "Do not judge or you will be judged in the same manner". I hope everything turns out for good for this family.

Fri, 03/18/2011 - 1:36pm - Posted by: Driveitlikeustoleit

Hahaha @ freddy. I was thinking the same thing. between the "yall" and the rest of the bad spelling. Was picturing it written in crayon and using the backward "S" Wow, not only do these kids have access to drugs and a stun gun, but to a computer too and one without spell check!! Oh these poor kids have no chance at all! lol

Fri, 03/18/2011 - 9:42am - Posted by: freddy

Someone please tell me that guestwho whos loves his doy is no more then 5 years old.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 9:07pm - Posted by: guestwho

TO ALL YALL PEOPLE saying all this about my grandmom,grandpop,dad and step mom yall dont know what really happen my grandmom and grandpop are good and tiffyany is a hard worker so if you dont know the story dont go what people say.. My doy bruno will be miss and to inform yall. that was my doy and it made me very sad when i found out the bad newss.. and dont talk about my sister because they do take very good care of her she really do love bruno so if yall dont know the truth dont say anything about the problem if it does not have to do with YOU OR YOUR FAMILY noy mind thank you very much....

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 7:39pm - Posted by: the giver

"Get a education and may be you can solve the states problems."

Hey Flipper, are you kidding me? Are you really questioning anyones intelligence/education with a "sentence" like that or some of the others you post? I would bet the police are glad you appear to represent the side of "Uncle Bruno" and not them!!

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 4:17pm - Posted by: theleft

I love dogs & actually all animals, however if I am doing my job with a warrant & can legally shoot an animal that is threatening me I would. People are more important than animals. People that have jobs keeping our community sfe & drug free. Or trying to at least.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 12:34pm - Posted by: 153

Tiffany is a good worker, and a hard worker. This could all be just a case of wrong place at the wrong time. We will have to wait & see. As for the dog, What can you say? They came through The door and probaly startled the dog and it did what most dogs have that basic instincts in them to do. sad situation all the way around.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 8:16am - Posted by: Driveitlikeustoleit

Tiffany Giesinger does work, She works at Cape Regional as a Nurse Aide. Makes u wonder if they do any kind of drug testing or surprise random testing there. There's a few in that place that I sometimes wonder about when I visit family,friends or when i have business being there.

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 3:26am - Posted by: getyourfactsstraight

To everyone that is posting comments on this article. You do not know all the facts, yes three family members were arrested and charged, but that does not mean all were involved in the drugs or weapons (1 stun gun) or even knew what was going on. If you are in a house when a raid takes place you will be arrested and chaged with anything that is recoverd during it, wether you live there or are just visiting. I know for a fact the child that everyone is so concerned about has never been put in any situation where she is around any drugs. Further more Bruno was a good family dog that never would have hurt the child, he loved her. Any dog that I have ever been around will try to protect their house and family, its called a loyal family pet. Bruno was loves and will be greatly missed.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:30pm - Posted by: wrinkledbeachbum18

I have a loving lab who would snarl, bark, and lunge at anyone who entered my house if she sensed my fear or discomfort. It's not the breed or the dog's "fault" - most dogs do these things to protect his/her home and family! I sincerely hope that the officers were justified in the shooting for everyone's sake, but it seems like locking the dog in a different room may have been a better idea. My heart goes out to the dog, Mrs. Jefferson, and her family. It's not fair to judge without knowing all the facts - or else it would be fair for me to judge every single person who commented thus far as uneducated trash from their grammatical, punctuation, spelling, sentence fragment, and ******phone mistakes.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 7:49pm - Posted by: ConcernedBoutWB

I feel sorry for the dog, but i'm more shocked that their was a drug raid in Woodbine. Hopefully the police are on a roll & don't stop their. Woodbine really needs it.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 6:51pm - Posted by: Janet Schubert

anyone more concerned with a dog instead of the atmosphere for their granddaughter and drugs and weapons in your home deserved all that came your way. The child should be removed, pitbull or poodle, your a terrible grandmother..

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 5:40pm - Posted by: theleft

Furthermore it was the OWNERS FAULT their dog was shot. Run a drug house, buy a dog capable of killing...what do u want the police to do? Sit around & have tea????

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 5:36pm - Posted by: theleft

All in County recovery is privately owned, STATE funding HELPS. Facilities are difficult to get into and costly. We need one here. HOWEVER in the case of this warrant & suspect - he was selling it- yeah he might also use but .....he is part of the PROBLEM.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 5:00pm - Posted by: 4everBlowingBubbles

What kind of idiot allows drug dealing, stun guns, and a pit bull with a history of abuse near a 2 year old?

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 4:20pm - Posted by: flipper

For the the one who is ignorant enough to use the word retard, you live in the bubble, come out and get some fresh air. Our county has no crisis center and no detox center! This is why there is such a problem there are no programs for these people, get your facts right. Yea the other counties have there problems too. Look up and see what the state shows you. CMC is the worst, and there is no funding for drug addictions and recovery. Study it you will be amazed at what is NOT around as far as HELP. Also i was not talking about crime rates or street deaths. Get a education and may be you can solve the states problems. First learn to be polite and do not offend special needs people. THANK YOU

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 3:56pm - Posted by: theleft

If i legally can shoot a dog that is growling @ me and threatening to gnaw my leg..I AM SHOOTING.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 1:37pm - Posted by: wildhood

Hey Jefferson, if your relatives wern't dealing crack and marijuana then your dog would still be alive. Your going to blame the troopers for the death of the dog when they were on location executing a search warrant with the intention of recovering drugs? Yea you should pursue an attorney so that the child could be removed from a home that has involvement in narcotics and weapons. Typical trash, only out to make a buck and the police would of never of had to execute the warrant if you people could get jobs like normal people and not have to deal drugs. What a joke. I do feel bad for the dog but the real issue is that this shooting wouldn't have happened if the police had no reason to execute the search warrant.

And to the retard Flipper, CMC has the second lowest population of all the countities in the entire state. You people live in a bubble if you think cape may county is "bad", take a walk around in newark, trenton or camden.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 12:45pm - Posted by: Justalocal

Hey flipper, if CMC is the worst in the state, and it's a fact, then you're pulling your fact from official statistics. Just because the cops are good here, and make the arrests they are supposed to make (which hence adds to the numbers), don't bash the county. When you think about it, if you play that drug game here, you'll likely get caught. It's a fact, as stated by your post.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 10:34am - Posted by: flipper

ok..... some of these cops are young and wet behind the ears, thinking that all calls are a rodeo! This has been proven over and over. Drugs and weapons are all all over Cape May County! Get a grip.... CMC is the worst in the state, this is fact! Look it up. To take it out on other family members and pets is wrong, don,t assume you know all the facts on this family! most don't. The problem lies, when you have your own encounter with some troopers out of woodbine,with the rudeness they have and the lack of any people skill.Good luck if you need help, always get a badge number as well as a supervisor name, your lucky if they will give that info on there own men. They will doubt you all the way! PEOPLE SKILLS ARE NEEDED, with these state troopers. The innocent are NOT protected. Nor are they treated with any respect. BRUNO was not. More training is needed as to proper skills on all calls. With all do respect to the good cops.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 6:51am - Posted by: theleft

Uhm, your grandaughter was exposed to drugs, your husband, don & daughter in+law were all involved & now arrested. Its a dog, wake-up---- you got seriously bigger problems...Bruno is in doggie heaven . Be concerned with you grandchild.

Wed, 03/16/2011 - 6:42am - Posted by: 3percentlou

should have shot all you druggies too.

Tue, 03/15/2011 - 9:34pm - Posted by: root4theunderdog

I feel so sorry for this dog. He was an innocent dog just trying to protect his home. He didn't understand what those officers were doing there. I can't believe they shot him twice. I don't believe shooting him was necessary at all. ! Rest in peace Bruno.

Tue, 03/15/2011 - 7:06pm - Posted by: Driveitlikeustoleit

Drugs and weapons in the house and your worried about "Uncle Bruno"? You have bigger problems then having your dog shot. I''m sure you were aware of what was going on in your house and who was doing it. Your lucky you weren't charged and dyfs don't come snatch those kids up. I have 2 dogs I love dearly, And feel your sence of loss. But if I were you, I'd keep quiet and cut your losses. Before they do charge you with something.




Calendar search

Date Range Search
Format: 05-24-2012.
Format: 05-24-2012.

more topicsMOST RECENT SPOUT OFFS

more homes TOP HOMES


more classifieds TOP CLASSIFIEDS

Property Transfer Chart