A Phoenix man whose property was raided by Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies, including volunteer lawman Steven Seagal, in March, recently claimed that his 11-month-old family dog was killed during the bust. Now, Seagal is fighting back against the allegation.
"I’ve been called a lot of things in my career, some of them not so kind,” the action-star-turned-reality-TV-star said in a statement. “But to be labeled an animal abuser is beyond the pale, and that is simply a role I will not accept.”
Yet that’s just the role Jesus Sanchez Llovera cast Seagal in when he named the actor in a legal notice of claim. Llovera is reportedly seeking financial compensation and a written apology from the actor, who was on the scene with his “Steven Seagal: Lawman” film crew. Llovera also wants compensation from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who, like Seagal, denies the incident with the dog ever happened.
"If my deputies, or Seagal for that matter, had done something so awful like shooting a family dog, then where are the photos to prove it?” Arpaio said in a quote published to Phoenix’s Fox 10 News. “Where is there any evidence by Llovera to prove this accusation and why are we only now hearing about it five months later?"
As for Seagal, according to TMZ, he’s already contacted Hollywood attorney Marty Singer and is considering suing Llovera for what he calls a “fabricated” claim.
Who do you believe in the dog dispute — Llovera or Seagal and the law? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
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