Schertz resident describes arrest after intervening in neighborhood dog attack, urges accountability

Monica Harris, a Schertz resident, told the City Council on March 4 that she was arrested after intervening in a dog attack near her home on Aug. 27 and said the Schertz Police Department did not properly investigate the incident.

Harris told council she was in her backyard at 11909 Trail Hollow when she heard a dog attacking a small person or child. She said she and her husband went to the scene, found a small woman with a labradoodle that “had been beaten 8 times by a pitbull,” and saw a man who owned the dog place the injured pet in his house and then leave and return. “He got out of his vehicle and he rushed me and my husband. And I was arrested by Schertz Police Department. I was in jail for 22 hours,” Harris said. “I was strip searched. I was forced to take a TV test. ... I was dehumanized. I was humiliated.”

Harris identified herself as a 100% disabled veteran and said the arrest and handling by officers left her feeling unsafe in her home and community. She also said multiple officers responded to the scene but that “no investigation was done.”

Why this matters: Harris’ remarks were made during the meeting’s public comment period and raised concerns about police response, victim care and follow-up after an animal attack. Public complaints about law enforcement conduct are matters residents frequently bring to council to request reviews, policy changes or follow-up from the chief of police or city staff.

At the meeting, Mayor Ralph Gutierrez thanked Harris for speaking. The transcript shows no immediate motion or formal direction from council to staff to investigate or report back; no police representative addressed the council during the public comment period. The council did not vote or take formal action on Harris’ statements during the March 4 meeting.

Context and clarifying details: Harris told the council the incident occurred Aug. 27 at a pocket park next to her home; she said five officers responded and that she was jailed about 22 hours and subjected to a strip search. She also said two people had died in Bexar County from pit bull attacks, arguing the issue raised public-safety concerns for Schertz.

Next steps noted at the meeting: None recorded. Harris’ statement remains a public comment on the record; the meeting transcript does not show a follow-up report or an assignment to staff for further inquiry at that session.

Speakers listed in this article: Monica Harris (public comment).