http://youtu.be/YAtRxRo2oTU The neighbor Ed Ranck who was an eyewitness the day Autumn Steele was shot and killed,described Autumns dog "Sammy" as "Playful"

Feb.6th article in newspaper today~ The word "Playful" is nowhere in article or in press release! See video link posted and the word Playful said by Eyewitness.  "Police shooting investigation now in hands of county attorney Beavers wants to meet with slain woman's husband. By ANDY HOFFMAN ahoffman@thehawkeye.com A report on the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation into a fatal police shooting in Burlington last month now is in the hands of the Des Moines County Attorney's Office. County Attorney Amy Beavers said Thursday she has received a "draft DCI case report but it is still awaiting a transcript of Officer (Jesse) Hill's interview" regarding the fatal shooting Jan. 6 of Autumn Steele. Steele, 34, was shot by Burlington Police Officer Hill outside her residence at 104 S. Garfield Ave. during a confrontation with her husband, Gabriel Steele, 35. Beavers said she asked DCI agents to contact Steele because "I would like to introduce myself to him and explain to him where we are in the investigation." She said she doesn't know when, or if, a meeting with Steele might occur. Beavers also said she cannot say when a final decision will be made on whether the shooting of Steele was justified or violated Iowa law or police department protocol. Beavers has two options concerning the DCI investigation. She either can make the decision herself or she can ask the Iowa Attorney General's office to review the DCI report before making her final decision. "I haven't decided whether I am going to ask the attorney general office's to review the DCI report," she said. "If I make the decision myself, it will probably be done in the next 30 days. If I ask the attorney general's office (to review the case), I don't know when the final decision will be made." Beavers also said she does not know if evidence in the case, including video and audio from body or dashboard cameras, will be released to the public. "At the end of the investigation, all evidence will become property of the Burlington Police Department," she said. "It will be up to them to decide what they will release." Steele died from a gunshot wound to the chest during a domestic disturbance with her husband in the mid¬morning hours of Jan. 6 on the sidewalk outside the couple's residence. The 31¬year¬old Hill, who has been on the police department since August 2013, has remained on paid administrative leave since the incident. A witness to the shooting said it appeared Hill was trying to thwart an attack by Steele's dog, a German shepherd mix, during the altercation between Steele and her husband. Ed Ranck, who lives across the street from the Steele residence and saw the shooting, said, "There is no belief in my mind the officer was shooting at the woman. "It appeared he was shooting at the dog when (the officer) fell to the ground," Ranck said. "It's my belief the woman was shot accidentally. The dog startled the officer. The officer began shooting at the dog. The officer was still shooting when he fell down in the snow." Steele was pronounced dead at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. She was shot in the chest in front of the couple's 4¬year¬old son after officers were sent to the area to investigate a domestic dispute. Hill suffered dog bites in the incident and was taken to GRMC for treatment of minor wounds and laterreleased. The dog has been impounded at the Des Moines County Humane Society since the day of the shooting. A hearing has been set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 before Burlington's animal hearing board to determine if Sammy, the German shepherd mix, is vicious and should be euthanized. Maj. Dennis Kramer, who oversees the animal control office for the Burlington Police Department, said Gabriel Steele has been notified of the Feb. 25 hearing. "We are following city ordinance concerning dog bites," he said recently. "The dog attacked a person (Hill), off its property, on the sidewalk. Therefore, our animal control officer (Tim Ourth) was notified." Kramer said due to information Ourth gathered, the hearing will be necessary. "There is a (history by the dog) of aggression toward postal carriers and other (police) officers," he said. A spokesman in the clerk's office at Burlington City Hall, said Thursday there is no record the Steeles purchased a dog license as required by city ordinance."

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"Sammy" News shared ~ The puppycidedb project article

"And Your Little Dog, Too"
05 FEBRUARY 2015 on Puppycide, Autumn Mae Steele, Jesse Hill, Burlington Police Department, Burlington Iowa, Burlington Animal Control Office, Burlington Animal Hearing Board
The Burlington IA Police Department already killed Autumn Steele in front of her husband and 4-year-old son. Why are they trying to kill her grieving family's dog Sammy?
In a previous post, we shared the awful story of how Burlington Iowa Police Department officer Jesse Hill shot and killed Autumn Mae Steele. Details remain of the incident scarce because the agency in charge of the investigation, Iowa Department of Public Safety, and more specifically Special Agent Rick Rahn, have refused to share the copious physical evidence available surrounding the shooting. Jesse Hill was wearing a body camera, and his police cruiser's dash camera was also operational. Not only have police refused to hand over those video tapes to the media, they have yet to even mention the footage in public.

Based on witness reports, the current understanding is that the Steele family dog Sammy was approaching Jesse Hill, and that Hill was attempting to kill Sammy when he missed and hit Autumn, instead. There is no explanation as to why Hill felt the imminent need to use a firearm as the first and only means of controlling Sammy, particularly given the fact that a 4-year-old child was right next to Autumn during the shooting. It is by providence alone that the two bullets Hill fired struck Autumn and Sammy and not the infant child in the line of fire.

Following the shooting, police took Sammy into custody and has refused to return the dog to the Steele family, compounding the tragedy for those who survive Autumn. This month, on February 25th at 6:30 p.m., a hearing is scheduled before the Burlington, IA Animal Hearing Board to determine Sammy's fate. The hearing will be held at:

Burlington Iowa City Hall
400 Washington St
Burlington, IA 52601

The current membership of the Burlington Animal Hearing Board is as follows:

Vicki Atteberry - (319) 754-1956
Mark Cameron - [contact info unavailable]
Amiee Egan - Burlington Auditorium & Port Booking Coordinator
Heath Hillyard - (319) 7528355

The Animal Control Office is overseen by Burlington PD Major Dennis Kramer. He can be reached at 319-753-8355 or via email kramerd@burlingtoniowa.org.

Readers can find the Burlington Animal Control Center on Facebook.

As the Animal Control Office is overseen by the Burlington Police Department, this hearing is being performed entirely at their behest. The hearing will determine whether Sammy meets the criteria as a "dangerous dog", the consequences of which could include euthanizing Sammy. Why would the Burlington Police seek to compound their purposeless killing of Autumn Steele by killing the family dog as well? Why are investigators with-holding the videotape of Jesse Hill's shooting of Autumn Mae Steele and Sammy?

*Note: what is known,"Sammy" was shot and survived. The paper served to family on Jan.15th,2015 stated that "Sammy" would be held at "Burlington Humane Society Animal Shelter". I think he is being held at," Des Moines County Humane Society" ... are shelters one in the same? My Grandson who witnessed his Mother being killed is 3 years old. * Looked up in pdf document for board members of "Burlington animal control hearing board members" ,members,of,board stated in article by puppycidedb are those members. Gina

Autumn Mae Waters Steele , Burlington Iowa,Autumns family wants answers and we,want " Sammie" back!

Columbus Ga. Native,Autumn Mae Waters-Steele was shot and killed by a Burlington Iowa police officer who shot her supposedly vicious dog "Sammie"..2 shots fired ,1 bullet striking "Sammie" who survived,other bullet striking "Autumn Steele" ,she died at the scene. Tragic accident of IMHO of negligence,excessive force and child endangerment ,happening in front of her husband and 3 year old son . Burlington police officer arrived over domestic abuse call. Witnesses questioned stated did not see the dog acting viscious to police officer,just maybe startled police officer. Said police officer taken to hospital for bite(s) ??? Investigation ongoing.."Sammie" impounded at a local humane shelter..witnesses say police officer slipped,from ice,and snow while firing weapon. Autumn Mae Waters Steele,34 yrs of age,mother of 2 young sons,died Jan.6,2015 Burlington Iowa.,Her family wants information! Gina Waters Colbert,6010 Buena Vista rd.,Columbus Ga.31907 . BPD,show some respect...also Sammie in local humane shelter,notice mailed to family threatening to euthenize "Sammie" if found viscious .."Sammie" has been held since evening of Jan.6th,2015,well enough time to observe even before legal notice served on Jan.15th...of all witnesses reported ,none stated they saw Sammie bite police officer Jesse Hill...officer bit,scratched..what?? Still,nothing excuses the moment My daughter Autumn was "ACCIDENTLY" shot,and killed. FYI, "Sammie" is a multi mixed canine,not a full blood " German Shepherd". Gina Waters Colbert