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Man Whose Dog Was Fatally Shot By Hawthorne Police Pleads Not Guilty To Felony Charges

HAWTHORNE (CBSLA.com) — The owner of a Rottweiler that was shot and killed by Hawthorne police in July was charged Tuesday with multiple felonies stemming from video taken of the incident.

Leon Cordell Rosby, 52, was arraigned Tuesday on two counts of dissuading a witness from prosecuting a crime, intimidation of witness and making criminal threats, and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said. He plead not guilty to all counts.

Atty. Says Charges Against Hawthorne Man Are Retaliation

Mark Geragos, Rosby's attorney, told KNX1070's Claudia Peschiutta the police are out for revenge after Rosby filed a complaint alleging he was beat up by Hawthorne police last year.

"It's payback," said Geragos. "It's police payback, because somebody had the temerity to film them."

Rosby received national attention when his dog was shot by police while he was detained by officers. During the incident, Rosby's 3-year-old dog lunged at officers who then opened fire. The incident was caught on cell phone video and posted on YouTube, where it went viral with more than four million hits.

The Hawthorne Police Department has released a second video taken by a second witness at the scene that showed more of the officers' actions prior to the shooting.

"After the second video was released, Rosby allegedly went to the witness' residence and had a verbal confrontation with her and her son," spokeswoman Jane Robison said.

Three detectives involved in the shooting have been reassigned for their protection.

Rosby's bail was set at $310,000. If convicted, he faces up to five years in state prison.

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