Richmond Police Officer Pleads To Charges Related To Fatally Shooting Fiancée’s Dog and Blaming Bear Attack

A Richmond, Virginia police officer pleaded to charges related to an incident where he fatally shot his fiancée’s dog and lied about it being an accident. Instead, he claimed it happened while he was trying to stop a bear attack.

Richard R. Chinappi III, 27, pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty and pleaded guilty to giving a false report to police. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.

According to the summary of evidence filed by Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Cerullo, police responded to an incident at the couple’s home on October 19. Chinappi’s fiancée’s father called in a bear attack at his daughter’s home.

When they arrived, they located Chinappi, who was displaying signs of intoxication. They also found blood splattered all over the kitchen and smeared on the floor. It showed signs of being cleaned up. They also found Clorox wipes and bleach. 

Chinappi initially told officers he was in the bathroom when he heard footsteps coming from the back deck. He said the bear then carried off the 27-pound beagle-hound mix, and he grabbed his shotgun and fired.

However, investigators found no signs that a bear had ever entered the home. Chinappi changed his story and told officers that one of the shots he fired went through the bear and struck the dog. 

He told investigators where the dog was buried, and its remains were sent to a veterinarian to be examined. The necropsy revealed the canine had been shot at close range, and there was a “huge hole” in the dog’s body with remnants of shotgun pellets.

Chinappi was hired by the police department in November of 2016, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest, where he will remain until the conclusion of his case. 

​​”Once concluded, the department will continue with our internal administrative process,” Richmond police spokeswoman Tracy Walker said.

Cerullo said Chinappi’s lawyer wrote a letter to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services informing them that his client intends to voluntarily surrender his law enforcement certification.