Goran Vukobratovic claims he suffered "great pain, shock and mental anguish" after Officer Kyle Ferreira killed the family's German shepherd. Watch video
WYCKOFF - A township man has filed a lawsuit against a police officer who shot and killed his dog during a botched burglary investigation last year.
Goran Vukobratovic claims in court papers he suffered "great pain, shock and mental anguish" after Wyckoff Police Officer Kyle Ferreira fatally wounded a German shepherd named Otto belonging to him and his family.
The officer, who was cleared of wrongdoing, showed up at the Vukobratovic home to investigate a burglary about 3:40 p.m. on April 29, 2015. However, the officer showed up at the wrong home, an investigation later revealed.
Police audio recordings showed a dispatcher told Ferreira to go to 621 Lawlins Road, the correct location of a recent burglary. But Ferreira went to the wrong house, 622 Lawlins instead of 621, after the dispatcher failed to correct him when he incorrectly repeated the address.
Ferreira's supervisors at the time said the officer took his gun out of its holster as a precaution, and that the dog jumped out of a window and bit him on the foot as he tried to run. That's when the officer fired at the dog, officials said.
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The suit, which also names the Wyckoff Police Department and the township, claims that Ferreira intentionally shot the dog and that the township failed to adequately supervise him.
"Ferreira, acting under color of law, was excessive and unreasonable," the suit states.
The shooting was "done intentionally, recklessly, was grossly negligent, palpably unreasonable, outrageous (and) outside the scope of his employment and duties," the suit states.
The suit claims the shooting "constituted a crime, actual malice, and/or willful misconduct."
Vukobratovic's attorney, Brandon J. Broderick, filed the suit Nov. 23 in Bergen County Superior Court. The attorney is seeking unspecified monetary damages for his client.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office declined to investigate the shooting. A township internal affairs investigation also exonerated the officer.
Ferreira could not be reached for comment.
Wyckoff Mayor Kevin Rooney said Wednesday he had not seen the lawsuit.
"I'm very familiar with the case. However, other than a tort claim notice filed last year as normal procedure when litigation is (threatened), the township has not been served with any updated notice of action," the mayor said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.