A two-second cellphone video showing a US Marshal kicking a small dog during an arrest operation in Memphis has gone viral, triggering outrage online and prompting an official response from the US Marshals Service (USMS).
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on February 4, 2026, when members of the Memphis Safe Task Force were serving an arrest warrant in the 1200 block of Raines Road. Authorities said they were attempting to apprehend Jaquize Henderson, who was wanted in connection with a commercial burglary case in north Mississippi.
Video sparks outrage
The video, shared widely on social media and obtained by WREG, appears to show a deputy marshal kicking a small dog outside an apartment complex. The woman who recorded the clip described the action as “unacceptable,” telling WREG that “power doesn’t excuse abuse.”
US Marshals, acting on behalf of the DOJ in Memphis, TN, kicked a dog during an arrest, leaving it with a broken rib. pic.twitter.com/dbPXVv7tCc— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) February 6, 2026
According to her account, officers were arresting a man on an outstanding warrant when the dog ran out of an apartment and began moving around the area before it was kicked. She added that the dog was later taken to a veterinarian, who confirmed it had suffered a broken rib.
USMS responds, cites safety concerns
In a statement released after the video gained traction online, the USMS said the dog had “tried repeatedly and aggressively to attack the working K9” that was present during the operation.
“The dog’s owner was instructed to restrain the dog but did not do so. A deputy U.S. marshal blocked the animal to keep it away from the K9,” the statement read. While acknowledging that “the appearance of the incident is unfortunate,” the agency maintained that the action was a “last-resort, split-second” decision made to control a potentially dangerous situation.
Officials also noted that Memphis leash laws require dogs to be restrained at all times, whether on or off the owner’s property.
