A Hendersonville couple has reached an agreement with the City of Hendersonville to end litigation over a police dog attack in 2020.

The $1.7 million settlement marks the end of an ordeal that began more than 2.5 years ago.

On August 2, 2020, Kevin and Mary O'Neill were heading for their car in the driveway of their home when a Belgian Malinois police K-9 approached them. As the dog lunged at Mrs. O'Neill, her husband went to unlock the car doors so they could get to safety.

According to the complaint, that is when the K-9 attacked him.

The dog was assigned to the O'Neill's next-door neighbor, Hendersonville Police Sergeant Robert Cantwell. In the complaint, Cantwell is accused of allowing the K-9, and his other dogs, to roam the property "at-large."

According to the O'Neill's attorney, that never should have been allowed to happen.

"They (Cantwell) should be responsible," John McCabe, the attorney for the O'Neills, said. "They're required to be responsible. That's what their training is supposed to mandate that this doesn't ever, ever, ever happen."

Mr. O'Neill suffered injuries to his face, throat, chest, abdomen, and other parts of his body. According to McCabe, the O'Neills wanted the city to take responsibility.

"The acknowledgement that somebody had done something wrong," McCabe says the couple sought, "and willing to acknowledge that and accept accountability for it."

Now, the O'Neills and the City of Hendersonville hope the incident will prove to be a lesson that will keep similar attacks from occurring.

"We talked about it," said John Connect, Hendersonville City Manager. "We want it to be a learning lesson, not only for the City of Hendersonville, but for other police departments across the state, and share how important it is to be on top of the K-9 program."

Sergeant Robert Cantwell remains employed with the Hendersonville Police Department. After the incident, the K-9 was donated to a former police/military dog non-profit in Texas.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHendersonville couple gets $1.7 million settlement in K-9 attack | WLOS