-Cocke County, TN. -October 25, 2023. Support us on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/shop/policebodycamvideos Donate to us through Patreon! https://patreon.com/PoliceBodycamVideos? What came in as a welfare check for a resident on Highway 160 in Bybee at the request of Hamblen County, ended with a Cocke County Sheriff Deputy discharging his weapon in self-defense to fend off an aggressive dog. According to an incident report, Lt. Dylan Norton responded to the residence on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at which he writes was known to also be the residence of an ongoing DCS investigation where one of the residents was alleged to be selling narcotics to other persons involved in the investigation. Norton reports he arrived on scene and activated his body camera. The Newport Plain Talk requested and received the complete 29-minute body camera recording from the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office. It is available for viewing online on The Newport Plain Talk’s YouTube channel and there also is a direct link with the online story at newportplaintalk.com. Due to its content and strong language, viewer discretion is advised. Per Norton’s report, and supported by his body camera’s video and audio, within moments of exiting his patrol vehicle, a large dog walked from behind the residence and began barking and acting aggressively. Norton was able to initially calm the dog down and the dog turned and walked away. However, as Norton approached the residence, the dog reappeared, barked and was showing its teeth. Norton states in his report, and again supported by body camera video, as he backed away, the dog continued to approach, closing the distance between the two and lunged at him. The dog can be seen being extremely aggressive and menacing toward Norton in the video as it lunged at him once more, attempting to bite him, at which point Norton discharged his firearm, striking the dog, which falls to the ground whimpering. Two of the residents, Jason Phillips and his mother, Cheryl Phillips, then exit the home and are visibly distraught in the video as Norton explains what happened and stating “that thing about ate me alive.” They request Norton’s supervisor come to the scene. Jason Phillips states the dog is 10 years old and has never bitten anyone. He also advised there were “beware of dog” signs on the property. Cocke County Sheriff Assistant Chief Doug Evans, Lt. Wes Keys and Sgt. Joshua Malone then responded to the scene. Norton is heard on video reviewing with the arriving officers what transpired. Norton states in his report that after speaking with the residents, they demanded law enforcement leave and they can be heard loudly in the video demanding they leave the property, at which time they do depart. The report was supplemented by Evans with additional information regarding the wounded dog. Evans reports he was directed to a parked vehicle by Cheryl Phillips, who opened the rear driver side door, where the dog was lying down with some food placed in front of it. Blood was observed in the seat area. He notes Cheryl Phillips was “very irate” and when asked if she planned to take the dog to the veterinarian, she allegedly replied “Are you going to pay the bill?” When she was told “no” she became more angry and wanted law enforcement off her property. Jason Phillips kept stating he would call a lawyer and wanted the body camera footage. Evans states Phillips was advised of the proper procedure for such a request. Evans also notes Phillips stated the dog was 10 years old and would never bite anyone despite the presence of the “beware of the dog” signs. Evans states he told Phillips that any animal with teeth had the potential to bite someone and Phillips agreed. In a follow up inquiry from The Newport Plain Talk, Evans said that when law enforcement left the scene, the dog was alive and walking around. He also said on Thursday that a complaint had been filed by Cheryl Phillips, who indicated she did take the dog to a veterinarian to be bandaged. Sheriff C.J. Ball said on Friday that all protocols were followed by Lt. Norton. “We investigated it, did an internal review of use of force and he followed all guidelines,” Ball said. “We reviewed the video and it met all standards of what the officer did. “We’re always saddened having to do something like that but you have to make a split-second decision in a situation like that and that’s the last resort. We never want to harm another animal. We’re big animal lovers around here. With respect to the family, we hate that happened.” Evans noted the officer had to make a quick decision in a “rapidly evolving situation.” “The owners of the dog were understandably upset and no one wants to have this happen,” Evans said on Friday. “At the end of the day the safety of our officers is the highest priority and hard decisions have to be made to ensure that safety.