- London, United Kingdom -
On Sunday, May 7, 2023, Met Police were dispatched to the Limehouse area in the Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London after receiving a report that a woman had been attacked by two dogs.
Upon arrival, officers found a homeless man identified as 46-years-old Louie Turnbull (pictured holding a microphone), and his two dogs, a 3-year-old male named Marshall and a 9-month-old male named Millions.
Daily Mail reports that some witnesses who saw the woman, claimed she got caught up in the dogs’ leads and was not seriously injured. Officials confirmed that the woman was not hospitalized.
A distressing video of the incident, which was widely shared online, showed cops surrounding Marshall, Millions, and Turnbull. The dogs were visibly nervous and, in an attempt, to protect their guardian, they lunged at the officers in front of them holding firearms. Keep in mind the Voiceless Victims were on a leash! One of the cops just shot at one of the dogs and the furbaby immediately collapsed. Residents at their windows and balconies of the surrounding apartments recorded the incident while shouting at police telling them to stop. Then, the other dog, still tied to the dog who had been shot, tried to run away dragging the dead dog along and another shot was fired directly at the live dog. Turnbull was tasered, placed under arrest, and charged with two dangerous dog offences.
On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Turnbull appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court to face charges of being the guardian of a dog who was dangerously out of control and being in possession of a dog while disqualified from owning or keeping a dog. Turnbull pleaded guilty to the latter.
According to This Is Local London, following his court appearance, hundreds of members of the Animal Rising group gathered outside New Scotland Yard on Westminster Embankment on the evening of May 11, 2023, and held a vigil to remember Marshall and Millions.
Dan Kidby, co-founder of Animal Rising, who was at the vigil, said: “The police have continued to act out of line with their job to serve and protect us all - now resulting in the shooting of two beautiful dogs, who hours before were happy and full of life. We’re here to show that, as a community, we will stand together, and be peaceful and defiant in the face of injustice.”
Hundreds of people also gathered outside the Met Police headquarters to protest. Turnbull was present and speaking to the crowd, he slammed the cops as “Murderers”.
Express reports that Turnbull said: “They pulled out all their weapons. They were intimidating me and the dogs. And all they were doing was trying to protect me. I had them on the lead, I was pulling them away and they just murdered them. I can’t sleep.” Turnbull also added: “It was just so disgusting. All I was doing was trying to get them back in the boat. And I was going to come out and speak to the police. But they weren’t having it.”
Another protest also took place outside Limehouse Police Station.
In a statement posted on Tower Hamlets Police’s Twitter page, the Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the video. It read: “Police were called just after 1700hrs on Sunday May 7, to a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, E14. Officers attended the location where the aggressive behavior of two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them. A man was arrested in connection with the incident for having a dog dangerously out of control and assault offences. No person was taken to hospital. Both dogs were destroyed by police at the scene. This is never an easy decision for an officer to take, but police have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will review the circumstances of the incident.”
As reported by LBC, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards have conducted a thorough review of the incident, including all of the available body-worn footage, and are satisfied that there are no concerns around officer conduct.
But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will now investigate two complaints from witnesses. IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said: “We understand the public concern regarding this incident and it is appropriate that it should be independently investigated. We will examine whether the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances and in line with relevant policy and procedure.”
A petition has been created addressed to the Home Office demanding to hold accountable the officers who killed Marshall and Millions.
Turnbull is due to appear at Snaresbrook crown court on June 6, 2023.
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Picture of Marshall and Millions shared from Twitter: Sue @Sue13800241
Additional Sources:
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