US Marshals Defend Officer Kicking Dog During Arrest

The agency says the action was a "last-resort" to control the situation and protect the K9 officer.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The U.S. Marshals Service has defended a deputy seen on video kicking a small dog during an arrest in Memphis, stating the action was not done with malice but was a "last-resort, split-second" move to control the environment and mitigate a dangerous situation after the dog repeatedly and aggressively tried to attack the working K9 officer.

Why it matters

The viral video sparked scrutiny of how law enforcement interacts with pets during enforcement actions and whether agencies will review officers' conduct captured and shared online.

The details

According to the agency, the dog got loose during the arrest of a suspect wanted for commercial burglary and tried "repeatedly and aggressively" to attack the working K9. The owner was told to restrain the dog but did not do so. The Marshals Service said a deputy then "blocked the animal to keep it away from the K9." However, the dog's owner has pushed back against the agency's narrative, stating the dog "immediately came out running around in circles" and the officer decided to kick it.

  • On February 4, U.S. Marshals served an arrest warrant in Memphis.
  • The incident with the dog kicking was captured on video and went viral online.

The players

U.S. Marshals Service

The federal law enforcement agency that defended the deputy's actions, citing officer and K9 safety.

Jaquize Henderson

The suspect wanted for commercial burglary in north Mississippi, whose arrest led to the incident with the dog.

Emma Hollingsworth

The woman who shared the viral video of the dog being kicked and has pushed back against the Marshals' narrative.

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What they’re saying

“While the appearance of the incident is unfortunate, the deputy marshal's action was not done with malice. It was a last-resort, split-second action taken by a law enforcement officer to control the environment and mitigate a dangerous situation. An uncontrolled, aggressive animal can hinder official duties and threaten safety.”

— U.S. Marshals Service (Newsweek)

“That is not no last resort option. My dog just immediately came out running around in circles and they decided to kick him.”

— Emma Hollingsworth (WANT Memphis)

What’s next

The agency will likely continue citing officer and K9 safety in public statements while local outlets and advocates monitor for updates on the dog's recovery and any policy guidance tied to animal encounters.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for law enforcement agencies to review their policies and training around interactions with pets during enforcement actions, as well as the importance of transparency and accountability when officers' conduct is captured on video and shared publicly.