U.S. Marshal Receives Backlash After Video Shows Him Kicking A Small Dog But Here Are The Details

Animal lovers aren’t going to like this.

A video obtained by TMZ shows a U.S. Marshal kicking a small dog as the U.S. Marshal was part of an operation to arrest a wanted suspect.

The dog in the video was seen barking at several U.S. Marshals and attempting to approach a Marshal K-9 used in the search of the suspect’s home.

As the dog approached one Marshal near the working K-9, the federal officer kicked the small dog aside.

TMZ shared more on the incident and provided further context:

A U.S. Marshal has sparked outrage after he apparently kicked a small dog hard — twice –while his counterparts made an arrest … allegedly breaking one of the pup’s ribs with the punts.

WREG-TV — a local outlet in Memphis, Tennessee — shared the sickening clip … the vid shows the marshal, clad in tactical gear and blue jeans, turning toward the yapping dog rushing at officers.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service tells TMZ … the incident was “unfortunate” … but there was no malice involved, and the agent reacted appropriately.

We’re told … the dog in question was being aggressive with a working K9, and the owner of the dog was told repeatedly to control their dog. The agent finally reacted to keep the dog away from the K9 … the spokesperson adding, “An uncontrolled, aggressive animal can hinder official duties and threaten safety.”

Here’s the video of the incident:

A U.S. Marshal has sparked outrage after he apparently kicked a small dog hard — twice — while his counterparts made an arrest. He allegedly broke one of the pup's ribs.

⚠️ Sensitive Content ⚠️

Details: https://t.co/8brGNgxOXh pic.twitter.com/SOaBFzKWe3

— TMZ (@TMZ) February 6, 2026

Here’s how users on X reacted to the video:

Disgusting! U.S. Marshal kicks tiny dog TWICE during arrest — breaks rib 😡 Justice for Yoshi! 🐶⚖️

— Madesh (@visionXtrends) February 6, 2026

Disgusting behavior. If this is how he treats a small dog, imagine how he treats people.

He needs to be held accountable NOW.

— BuzzBrief (@_BuzzBrief__) February 6, 2026

Some users on X supported the officer’s action:

Not his problem and oh fuckin well. Don’t be a fuckin fugitive and your dogs will be ok.

— NT 𝕏_Guerilla (@SCTCO945LLC) February 6, 2026

That kick was to save the little dog from the BIG DOG, dummy

— LilMcRed (@LilMcRed1) February 6, 2026

WREG shared the U.S. Marshals’ full response to the incident:

The U.S. Marshals Office released a statement regarding the viral video:

“At approximately 1 p.m., Feb. 4, 2026, Memphis Safe Task Force officers with a working K9 were at an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Raines Road to serve an arrest warrant on Jaquize Henderson, who was wanted for commercial burglary in north Mississippi.

During Henderson’s arrest, a dog from one of the apartments got loose and tried repeatedly and aggressively to attack the working K9. The dog’s owner was instructed to restrain the dog but did not do so. A deputy U.S. marshal blocked the animal to keep it away from the K9.

A woman at the apartment complex recorded the incident on her cell phone and posted the video to social media. While the appearance of the incident is unfortunate, the deputy marshal’s action was not done with malice. It was a last-resort, split-second action taken by a law enforcement officer to control the environment and mitigate a dangerous situation. An uncontrolled, aggressive animal can hinder official duties and threaten safety.

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Memphis leash laws require dogs to be restrained at all times, prohibiting them from running at large, whether on or off the owner’s property. Dogs off-property must be on a leash, while on-property, they must be behind a secure fence, a functional invisible fence, or a proper, safe tether.”

What’s your take?

Were the officer’s actions justified?

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