What began as a compassionate act to save a dog from the sweltering heat turned into a tense confrontation between a concerned citizen and law enforcement.

On June 7, Suzanne Vella (also known as Svella on Instagram) spotted a dog panting heavily inside a black truck parked outside a Wendy’s. The windows were barely cracked, and with temperatures soaring to 91°F, she searched for the owner, then called 911. Finding the truck door unlocked, she opened it to give the dog air and water while waiting for help.

But when Corporal Robert Russell of the Cornelius Police Department arrived, the situation escalated. Instead of thanking her, the officer, who oversees the department’s K-9 units, reprimanded Vella, insisting she had no right to open the vehicle. He repeatedly asked the dog’s owner if they wanted to press charges, though the owner declined and left without consequence.

I was leaving the gym when I noticed a dog in a black truck perched up on the window sill trying to get air from a barely cracked window. I approached the vehicle and the dog was in clear distress, panting heavily. I looked for owners in the surrounding parking lot and checked the nearby Wendy’s where the truck was parked. There were no adults in the eating area of the restaurant. I went back to the vehicle and checked the door handle. The door was open. I called 911 and explained the situation, telling them that I was going to open the door to give the dog some air and water. 10 minutes later police arrived. Next video explains what happened.

When the police officer arrived, he immediately began yelling at me about how I broke the law. The officer repeatedly told me that I had no right to open someone’s car door to help a dog. The officer unfortunately oversees all of the K-9 units at cornelius Police station. The officer continuously reprimanded and attempted to intimidate me. The officer repeatedly asked the owner of the dog and vehicle if they wanted to press charges. The police officer did not speak with or take information from the owner of the dog. The owner then left without any consequences, and the officer continued to reprimand and yell at me.