threatening an officer of the law!"
Reynolds looked at the wall of citizens, then at Arthur, who was kneeling calmly on
the floor next to Kodiak, gently running his hands over the dog's ribcage to check for
fractures.
Reynolds frowned. He knew Arthur. He knew Kodiak's service record. He also knew
Vance's reputation. "Is that true, Mr. Pendelton?"
Before Arthur could answer, Marcus stepped forward, holding out his phone.
"Sergeant, don't listen to him. I recorded the whole thing. Watch this."
ergeant Reynolds took the phone and tapped play. The audio of the confrontation
played loudly in the quiet diner. Vance’s aggressive demands. Arthur’s calm
assertion of his rights. And then, the unmistakable, sickening sound of the kick.
Reynolds watched as Kodiak was thrown against the wall, saw the dog’s instinctive
reaction, and heard Arthur’s immediate, commanding "Kodiak, stay." He watched
Vance nearly pull his weapon on a stationary, perfectly disciplined animal in a room
full of civilians.
The trooper’s face hardened into a mask of pure disgust. He handed the phone back to
Marcus. "Email that to me immediately," he instructed.
Reynolds turned slowly to face Sheriff Vance. "He ordered his dog to attack you,
Sheriff? Is that what you just told me?"
Vance stammered, his face pale. "The video... it doesn't show the whole context. The
dog was acting aggressively before—"
"Save it," Reynolds snapped, cutting him off sharply. "I just watched you walk up to a
seated veteran and kick a federally protected service animal unprovoked. I watched
you nearly draw your sidearm in a crowded restaurant over a situation you escalated."
The other three troopers subtly shifted their positions, moving to flank Vance. The
brotherhood of the badge did not extend to protecting a tyrant.
ergeant Reynolds took a step closer to Vance. "Sheriff Vance, I need you to hand
over your weapon and your badge."
Vance looked horrified. "You can't do this! I'm the elected sheriff of this county! You
don't have jurisdiction—"
"I have state authority regarding felony animal cruelty and aggravated assault,"
Reynolds replied coldly. "Hand over the weapon, Vance. Don't make this harder than
it has to be."
Trembling, Vance unbuckled his gun belt and handed it to one of the troopers. He
unpinned his star badge and dropped it on the table next to him.