Viral Video Shows Dog Kicked During Fugitive Arrest

Video footage from Memphis has sparked national outrage after a deputy U.S. marshal was seen kicking a 9-month-old mini schnauzer during the arrest of the dog’s owner’s boyfriend. The incident occurred as members of the Memphis Safe Task Force took Jaquize Henderson into custody on a commercial burglary warrant. Two videos obtained by WMC show the dog, Yoshi, running toward a law enforcement K-9 during the arrest and being kicked away twice by a marshal, with the dog yelping and later diagnosed with a fractured rib. Yoshi’s owner, Emma Hollingsworth, said she was unable to intervene because officers blocked her inside the apartment doorway.

Officials Defend Actions as Split-Second Decision

The U.S. Marshals Service defended the marshal’s actions, stating the small dog “tried repeatedly and aggressively to attack the working K-9” and that the kick was a last-resort effort to control a dangerous situation. Officials said the dog’s owner was instructed to restrain the animal and did not do so, while Hollingsworth disputes that account. The case has renewed discussion around law enforcement training involving animal encounters. Tennessee was the first state to pass the General Patton Act in 2004, requiring officers to receive training on handling animals during police operations. Despite the defense, the viral footage has raised public concerns about proportional response, animal safety, and accountability during high-risk arrests. For video ad addition reporting visit Fox10TV.