Law/Justice

Richmond police officer pleads to fatally shooting fiancée’s dog inside their Powhatan home in fabricated ‘bear attack’

By Richmond Times Dispatch

Richmond patrol officer has pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty stemming from an October incident in which he fatally shot his fiancée’s dog at a home they shared in Powhatan County.

He then fabricated a story claiming he accidentally killed the dog while trying to stop a bear attack.

Richard R. Chinappi III, 27, also pleaded guilty to giving a false report to police about how the dog, a 27-pound beagle-hound mix, was killed on Oct. 19 at his home in the 6100 block of Walnut Tree Drive. He will be sentenced on March 11.

According to a summary of evidence by Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Cerullo, the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office received a call from the father of Chinappi’s fiancee about an alleged bear attack at the home his daughter shared with Chinappi.

Upon arrival, officers located Chinappi, who showed signs of intoxication. Inside the house, they discovered blood spatter on the kitchen island, pantry and refrigerator, along with blood smeared on the floor, which appeared to be “semi-cleaned up.” They also found bloody Clorox wipes and a bottle of Clorox bleach.

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