Cops released body camera footage of the incident after the allegations. Rockton Police are facing outrage on social media after a Wisconsin man alleged his French Bulldog died during a traffic stop encounter on July 27.
What police said
Viral TikTok videos posted by Waldemar Collazo Gonzalez accused Rockton Police of failing to properly respond after his eight-month-old French Bulldog, Kody, reportedly suffered heat stroke after he was pulled over. The department admitted that Kody was panting inside the vehicle. They claimed that he later showed images on a cellphone that allegedly showed driver’s licenses with two different birth dates. He was then arrested and cited for driving with a suspended license and other violations. A video shows Collazo Gonzalez telling officers that the breed can die if not kept cool. In an X post , journalist Sarah Fields blamed Rockton Police for Kody’s death.
Police said that Officer Graham stopped Collazo Gonzalez around 12:40 pm after allegedly observing him driving 75 mph in a 55 mph zone. Authorities noted that temperatures were forecast to reach 92 degrees and heat warnings were in effect across the region. At Collazo Gonzalez’s request, Graham transported both him and Kody to a nearby Kelley Williamson Mobil gas station at approximately 1:35 pm. The department said that Kody remained in the air-conditioned squad car for approximately 33 minutes before he was taken to the gas station. Graham then remained at the scene for another 46 minutes, and assisted Collazo Gonzalez and the pooch.
Because collazo Gonzalez initially claimed he did not have identification, police claimed that the stop was so long.
Kody later began showing signs of distress, police said. Police said that there, the officer bought ice, got water for the dog and placed a bag of ice beneath Kody to help cool him down. Body camera footage showed Collazo Gonzalez later thanking the officer, shaking his hand, according to police.
