PALESTINE, ARKANSAS – A Palestine police officer has been charged with assault after firing eight shots inside a woman’s home and killing her two dogs. Officer Harold Holland, 36, was at Haley Smallwood’s home while her ex-husband collected his belongings when the dogs came out of a room. Bodycam footage shows Smallwood reaching for her Rottweiler as the officer opened fire. Six children were reportedly inside the home at the time.
Officer Was Keeping the Peace During Domestic Dispute Pickup
Holland was at the home in late July after an earlier domestic dispute, standing by to keep the peace while Smallwood’s ex-husband retrieved his things. When the man walked out, a Rottweiler and a pit bull came out of a nearby room.
Smallwood said the dogs were accidentally let out. Holland fired eight shots, killing both animals. Bodycam timestamps place the shooting on the evening of July 27. No people were reported injured in the shooting.
Officer Admits Dog Did Not Bite Him
In the bodycam video, Holland is asked whether the dog bit him, and he answers no. He said he fired because the dog came at him. Holland claimed both dogs were acting aggressively.
Smallwood disputes that, saying the dogs were not aggressive. She said she was standing right next to the Rottweiler when he opened fire, putting her directly in the line of fire. The footage has since been released by the Palestine Police Department.
Holland Charged and Released Less Than Two Hours After Booking
Smallwood said Holland was charged with first-degree assault for firing so close to her, which is a Class A misdemeanor in Arkansas. At least one outlet reported the charge as aggravated assault. Under Arkansas law, first-degree assault involves recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury to another person.
He was booked into the St. Francis County jail and released less than two hours later, according to the post sharing the video. The post also says he remains employed by the department. His current job status has not been independently confirmed.
Police Chief Expressed Concern as Family Struggles With Loss
Palestine Police Chief Jeff Nichols said the internal investigation was handed over to outside authorities. Smallwood said Nichols told her he had viewed the bodycam video and was concerned that the officer fired while she stood beside the dog.
Smallwood said the loss is still hard to cope with. Critics online have questioned why an officer sent to keep the peace left a family grieving and children exposed to gunfire inside their home. Smallwood said she filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the bodycam footage.
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