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Punta Gorda Settles Over Officer Involved K-9 Incident

WGCU | By Michael Hirsh
Published October 17, 2016 at 3:56 PM EDT

Correction: The attorney for the company that insures Punta Gorda against claims in cases like this, Nikki Nate of the Bryant Miller Olive firm in Tampa, says the settlement is for $70,000. Reporter Michael Hirsh was originally told by his source it was for $73,000. 

WGCU News has learned the insurance company for Punta Gorda has reached a settlement in a year-old police dog-bite case. The officer involved is the same one who shot and killed a 73-year-old volunteer in a shoot-don’t shoot demonstration at police headquarters in August.

Last October 30th, Punta Gorda canine officer Lee Coel tried to stop Richard Schumacher from riding his bicycle without a working taillight.

In Coel’s dashcam video he is heard saying, “Stop now or I’ll send the dog.” 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19YqsvE7xFU

Schumacher did not obey. The 28-year-old officer parked his vehicle with K-9 Spirit locked in the rear, and attempted to apprehend Schumacher on foot.

The situation escalated, and apparently believing he ran the risk of injury, Officer Coel released Spirit, who bit Schumacher for several minutes. The dash-cam video has now been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Schumacher’s dog bite injuries were so severe they required surgery and an eleven-day hospital stay. He pled guilty to DUI on a bicycle and obstructing a police officer without violence.

Schumacher and the city’s insurance company settled last week for $73,000.

Officer Coel was temporarily suspended but City Manager Howard Kunik said an outside consultant who specializes in police canine cases said he should not be fired.

“When you get an independent report coming back saying that the officer used sound judgement, was within the policy at that time,” said Kunik. “We took that information and the police department made the call as to the type of counseling and the type of training/retraining and that’s how they handled it. And so I’m not going to second guess them.”

Punta Gorda’s police chief also changed department policy as to when a K-9 can be deployed.

Officer Coel had left his previous job at the Miramar Police Department

while excessive force charges against him were being investigated.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating Coel’s involvement in Mary Knowlton’s death during the Citizen’s Police Academy in August. Coel remains on administrative leave at an undisclosed location. 

Added 10/18/16: The attorney for the company that insures Punta Gorda against claims in cases like this, Nikki Nate of the Bryant Miller Olive firm in Tampa, has confirmed to WGCU News that they are in negotiations with the family of the late Mary Knowlton. But at the request of the family, they will not comment on the status of those settlement talks.
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Law and Order Punta GordaLocalK-9Police Shooting
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