WICHITA — A Harvey County sheriff’s deputy accused of entering a family’s front yard without a warrant and killing their dog must face trial in the civil lawsuit brought by the animal’s owners, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Kent and Tonya Mayfield in ruling that the Halstead couple provided sufficient facts to show a “clearly established violation of their Fourth Amendment rights.” Animals, including dogs, constitute personal property protected against unreasonable searches and seizures, the court ...