On 06-09-13, at
about 0045 hrs, Deputy Gempler was dispatched to the report of a fire on Black Road, in Big
Oak Flat. When Deputy Gempler arrived, he saw a couple of outbuildings on fire
and trees above a house on fire. Fire personnel had not yet arrived, so Deputy
Gempler approached the house, which was under the flaming trees, and made
contact with an elderly female, who Deputy Gempler helped to safety. Deputy
Gempler returned to the area to check the occupants of an additional house when
he heard a couple of “Pops.” Deputy
Gempler did not identify the pops as gunshots due to the arriving fire
personnel, radio traffic, and the natural sounds of fire burning.
Deputy Gempler
heard a woman screaming and ran to the area he thought it was coming from and
saw a female dragging a wounded dog. An off duty Sheriff’s Deputy approached
Deputy Gempler and said he had to shoot the dog because it was acting
aggressive and charged him as he was standing with an older couple watching the
fire.
Sheriff’s
Deputies approached the female owner of the dog and tried explaining the
situation. A male, later identified as Robert Bostic, exited a near by house
and was acting aggressive. Bostic then ran at the Deputies forcing one of them
to tase Bostic. Bostic was arrested and taken to County Jail.
The shooting of
the dog is being handled in a separate investigation.
Thank you,
Sgt. James Oliver
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office