A family rushing to save their injured dog is held at gunpoint by a cop. The shocking incident leaves the family shaken and their dog dead.
In a recent incident captured on police bodycam, a family in New Mexico found themselves in a harrowing situation as they were held at gunpoint by a police officer. The family was in a rush to get their injured Labradoodle, Stella, to the veterinarian after she had been hit by a car. William Albrecht, the driver, admits he was speeding but argues that it was for a good reason—to save the life of their family pet.
The video begins with the police officer ordering William to step out of the vehicle, holding him at gunpoint. William complies, stepping back as instructed, his hands on his head. Meanwhile, his wife, Tara, is seen in the passenger seat cradling Stella, who is visibly injured. Their teenage son, Remy, is also in the car.
William pleads with the officer to let him proceed to the veterinarian's office, explaining the urgency of the situation. "My neighborhood hit my dog. That's my son, my wife," he says. Tara describes the experience as horrifying, saying, "My heart dropped. I'm defenseless, all these guns drawn on my husband and my son and our vehicle, over trying to save our dog."
Remy, the 16-year-old son, is also ordered to kneel down and is handcuffed. He recalls the incident, saying, "I said no words. I need to get to [the vet]." The family was stopped in Bernalillo, New Mexico, just outside Albuquerque. William recounts his desperation, saying he did everything the officer asked and was almost pleading with him to let them go. At one point, the officer even told him to "shut the f up."
It took the officer just four minutes to realize the family's emergency was genuine. They were released without even a speeding fine but were left shaken by the experience. William says, "I can't believe you pulled your gun on my kids, sir."
Tragically, despite finally being allowed to continue to the vet, Stella did not survive. William believes that if they hadn't been delayed by the police stop, Stella would have made it. The bodycam footage ends with the officer's parting remark to the Albrechts: "Next time, stop."
The family is now planning to sue the police department, which has not yet responded to inquiries about the incident. The video, uploaded by Inside Edition on September 19, 2023, has already garnered over 100,000 views, sparking a conversation about the balance between law enforcement and emergency situations faced by civilians.
This incident serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often tense relationship between law enforcement and the public. It raises questions about the discretion police officers should exercise in different situations, especially when lives—human or animal—are at stake.