Former police officer threatened to put bullet in child’s head over doorbell prank, police say

Dean Taylor said pranks had happened at least four times before he threatened the boys

The ex-officer, now a licensed estate agent, was released on bail (Getty Images)

Pranksters had been ringing doorbells and running away in his neighbourhood for a while, Dean Taylor told police, and he was “fed up.”

When it allegedly happened again, police said, the 63-year-old’s reaction - chasing the boys and telling a child he’d “put a bullet in his head” - got him arrested.

Mr Taylor, a former San Francisco police officer, faces felony charges of kidnapping and making death threats after police say he lashed out at an 11-year-old who participated in group shenanigans.

Mr Taylor said the pranks had happened at least four times in his San Rafael, California, neighbourhood before the incident that led to his arrest 12 February. He had been waiting for his next chance to confront the youths, police said.

That night, Mr Taylor allegedly ran out of his home and chased the group of boys before getting in a dark sedan to pursue them further.

Mr Taylor reportedly blocked the running 11-year-old’s path with his vehicle. When he got out, he yelled at the boy, grabbed him by the neck and forced him to the ground before pushing the boy into his vehicle to take him to his parents’ house, according to police.

According to police, Mr Taylor then told the boy that if he ever caught him participating in the prank again, he would “put a bullet in his head,” the boy said.

The boy was dropped off near an intersection before running home to tell his parents what had happened. He had redness around his neck that did not require medical attention, the police report said.

The San Rafael Police Department said it had received calls and alerts about the incident. Police said a witness called to report an older man yelling at a child and grabbing him aggressively. The witness told police that the man and the child got into a dark sedan and left the area.

Police said a parent of another child who was allegedly part of the prank told responding officers that an older man had chased her child’s friend. Police said they also received a call from the 11-year-old boy’s parents.

Mr Taylor denied grabbing the boy by the neck or making a threat about the bullet. He was arrested and booked into Marin County jail.

The former officer, who is now a licensed real estate agent, was released on 13 February on $100,000 (£70,715) bail, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. His next court date is set for 29 March, a records clerk confirmed.

No one responded to a call to a number registered to Mr Taylor.

Anthony Brass, his attorney, told The Washington Post that the group of youths had been doorbell-ditching the neighbourhood for some time, that the boy has thrown oranges at homes before, and that no one had stopped him.

Mr Taylor was resting after surgery on one of his feet the night his actions escalated, Mr Brass said.

“It’s incredible he has to now face that kind of punishment in a case where no one is hurt and everyone is fine,” Mr Brass said of the law enforcement veteran with more than three decades of service.

Mr Brass is working to get the charges against Mr Taylor dropped.

“There has been an outpouring of support since the story came out, from kids he coached [for junior varsity basketball] and their parents,” Mr Brass said. “This is a man known to keep a level head.”

The Washington Post