Minneapolis Police Accused of Terrorizing Family Over Escaped Dog

In a disturbing incident that has reignited criticism of the Minneapolis Police Department, five officers are accused of illegally entering a family’s home and traumatizing them in the middle of the night – allegedly over a loose dog that had already been captured by Animal Control.

On March 25, 2025, Ebony Dobbins and her three young children were asleep when their family dog, Rocky, got loose and was running between their house and a neighbor's yard. A concerned neighbor called Animal Control, but Minneapolis police officers responded first. According to police reports, they arrived at 12:43 a.m.

According to Animal Control Officer Sharon Baker’s report, she arrived around 1:00 a.m. to assist with the dog. She wrote, “I yelled at [Rocky] to get on the porch and he did it. I approached closer and told the dog to sit down. He finally sat down on the porch and I secured him on a control pole. I was then able to impound this dog to my vehicle. MPD then attempted to make contact with the residents at this address.”

The family takes issue with that last part – even though Animal Control quickly apprehended the dog without incident, police did not leave. 

“I’m mad they broke in and entered my home without a warrant, without any probable cause,” said Ebony. “Now we are constantly getting harassed. I have to sleep during the day so I can be up at night.”

According to security footage, officers knocked on the family’s front door, then hid – a behavior described by Ebony and supporters as “playing ding-dong-ditch.” When no one responded, officers peered into a window where Ebony’s 7-year-old son was sleeping. At 1:43 a.m., one of the officers climbed through the window to unlock the front door for others.

The officers went room to room and forced the family into the living room and searched the house without presenting a warrant.

“There is no excuse or justification for an officer climbing through her son's bedroom window,” said civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong. “That is absolutely horrifying and distressing that something like that could have happened. And if Ebony and her partner had thought it was a burglar and responded accordingly then they would be facing charges."

The Minneapolis Police Department issued the following narrative:

Officers responded to a report of an uncontrolled, aggressive dog at a residence.  While waiting for Animal Control, officers spent more than an hour trying to make contact with the occupants. They knocked on doors and windows while avoiding the loose dog, called cell phones they could hear ringing inside, and used bright lights to get attention.

During this time, officers observed children inside the home who appeared unresponsive. Concerned for their safety, officers entered the home through an open window to avoid causing damage from a forced entry.

There have been claims that officers entered the home with weapons drawn—those claims are false. Officers entered calmly, announced their presence, and focused on ensuring the safety of everyone inside.

Chief O’Hara has reviewed the body-worn camera footage and supports the officers' actions. 

Violation of trust and the law

Michelle Gross, CUAPB President, condemned the incident as not only unlawful but also in violation of the consent decree between the Minneapolis Police Department and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). 

That agreement was put in place after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020. It mandates sweeping reforms in MPD practices, especially regarding use of force, searches, and interactions with civilians.

“We are calling for the firing of these officers who cavalierly entered a private home and terrorized a family in the middle of the night over an escaped dog who had already been captured,” said Michelle.

Since the incident, the Dobbins family reports ongoing harassment, including regular MPD patrols through the alley behind their home and additional visits from Animal Control under false pretenses. Without any clear answers from officials, the family is now trying to move.

“We are helping them raise funds in order to allow them to find new housing outside of Minneapolis,” said Nekima. “This is another family that we've run out of Minneapolis because of the illegal conduct of the Minneapolis police, and it's shameful.”

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