Monmouth Dad, Daughter: Cops Held Them At Gunpoint, Shot Dogs

TINTON FALLS – A New Jersey father and daughter have taken action against a police department that they say held them at gunpoint while they shot their dogs. One dog died.

Robert Fullerton and his daughter, Bobbi Rene, have filed a federal lawsuit against Tinton Falls Officer Adrian Reyes, Police Chief John Scrivanic and several other unnamed officers, asking for punitive damages and attorney’s fees for allegedly having their civil rights violated.

No one was charged with any crimes connected to the incident. Efforts to obtain comment from Tinton Falls police were not immediately successful.

The incident happened on Oct. 8, 2017 when police and Reyes were dispatched to the Fullerton's Tinton Falls residence on Green Grove Road following a 911 call that reported the family was arguing, according to the lawsuit. The Fullertons say the argument had ended by the time police arrived.

Before any officers arrived, Robert Fullerton allegedly received a call from his longtime friend, Tinton Falls Police Lt. Kyle Pierson. Pierson asked Fullerton if everything was all right, and the father told him that he had been arguing with his daughter, according to the lawsuit.

Pierson then tried to notify the responding officers that he had spoken with Fullerton and had been advised that no assault had occurred at the Fullerton residence, according to the lawsuit.

The officers arrived anyway, and when they came, Robert Fullerton heard a knock on the door. His two dogs, German Shepherds named Sadie and Hannah, responded, the lawsuit said.

Robert Fullerton then opened the door and stepped outside; Sadie brushed past him, walking onto the driveway and was immediately shot three times by Reyes and other officers, according to the lawsuit.

Reyes then ordered Robert Fullerton, with a gun pointed in his face, to get on the ground, the lawsuit says. Bobbi Rene Fullerton then followed Hannah outside, at which time Hannah was immediately shot twice by Reyes and officers, according to the lawsuit.

Reyes then ordered Bobbi Rene at gunpoint to get on the ground, pointing his weapon in her face, according to the lawsuit. Sadie died as a result of the gunshot wounds and Hannah was taken to a veterinary hospital, according to the lawsuit.

"As a direct and proximate cause of the defendants’ excessive and unreasonable use of force set forth above, plaintiffs sustained emotional injuries, veterinary expenses and will incur additional special damages in the future in an amount which cannot yet be determined," according to the lawsuit.