A woman says she feels “personally responsible” for causing a meltdown of a dog owner who saw him stab two officers before being shot dead.
Sean Ferris, 52, yelled at terrified locals about his dog – a husky named Buddy – outside a supermarket in the small town of Crystal Brook, in central South Australia, on Tuesday.
Police officers went to Ferris’ home on Wednesday morning for a welfare check before being stabbed – leaving two comatose and fighting for their lives.
Ferris was shot dead at the scene and Pauline Flavel, an elderly local resident, has now revealed how she feels responsible for what happened.
Sean Ferris, 52, was shot dead after stabbing two police officers visiting him over a petty altercation the day before he got his dog involved.
Pauline Flavel, an elderly local, has now revealed how she feels responsible for what happened
She says the incident happened shortly after a tense confrontation between her and Ferris outside local stores.
She said she saw the man’s dog, tied to a post, howling loudly outside the Foodland supermarket.
Mrs. Flavel thought Ferris would be in the shop for a long time, so she untied the dog and moved him closer to a chair so she could sit down and comfort him.
She said she was friends with Ferris and often hung out with the man’s dog.
Ms Flavel said Ferris reacted furiously on this occasion when he came out to find his dog had been moved.
“I was talking to him and petting him so he didn’t make a sound, but when he came out he just completely fell off his tree,” she said. The advertiser.
“He’s never done that to me. I’ve known him for years so I just blocked it and moved on but I went into the store and someone was on the phone and I thought I hope she doesn’t call the police.
Ms Flavel said she felt it was ‘my fault’ and that the following incident between Ferris and the police had ‘screwed the hell out of me’.
Footage emerged of Ferris yelling at people about his dog outside the supermarket.
He tells them he’s “sick of assholes like you whining about my dog and causing me trouble.”
Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, and Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, 32, were stabbed after going to Ferris’ home for a welfare check at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Brevet Sergeant Todd suffered life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in the neck, arm and hands, while Brevet Sergeant Allely suffered injuries to his right leg and arm.
Ferris, 52, yelled at terrified locals about his dog — a husky named Buddy — outside a grocery store in the small town of Crystal Brook
Brevet sergeant Jordan Allely suffered stab wounds to his right leg and arm
Both men are in an induced coma at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Ferris had had a few run-ins with police after being arrested in November 2021 for refusing to wear a mask.
On the same day, he was arrested for assault and disorderly conduct and later charged with obstructing police.
Police eventually dropped the charges and Ferris pleaded guilty to violating Covid restrictions, disorderly conduct and obstructing police.
He was ordered to pay costs and given no further sentence after the magistrate took into account the time he had spent in pre-trial detention following his arrest.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed that the officers visited Ferris after a ‘breakdown’ at the local supermarket on Tuesday.
“There was a minor glitch at the local supermarket in Crystal Brook,” he said.
“The police officers followed suit following that incident.”
He later described the incident as “relatively benign” but said it warranted police following up.
Footage from the altercation shows Ferris yelling at another man outside the Foodland while holding a husky and what appears to be a walking stick.
“You’re the one bothering me, (unintelligible) try to do your job,” you hear the man say, before yelling, “Leave me alone.”
“I’m sick of assholes like you whining about my dog and causing me trouble…don’t tell me what to do with my life.”
Crystal Brook resident Tom Sawyer witnessed the altercation and said he had heard elsewhere that the man threatened someone with a knife.
“I just heard that today in passing,” he told The Advertiser.
“People would get frustrated with the dog, he would make a lot of noise, but I never saw him get aggressive.”
“He was a nice guy when I talked to him.
Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, the officer in charge of Port Germein, suffered life-threatening critical injuries after being stabbed in the neck, arm and hands
Police said they were responding to a “high-risk incident” in Crystal Brook, in the center of the state, on Wednesday just after noon (Crystal Brook police scene photo)
“He went to the shops once a day and then lunched under the roundabout … (then) he came down again in the afternoon and walked his dog on the paths through town.”
However, there were multiple reports of him confronting strangers with his cane and also threatening to let go of his husky.
Commissioner Stevens said the shocking incident had devastated the tight-knit police community in Crytsal Brook and the surrounding area.
“Ian has a son-in-law who is in charge of Kadina police station, while Jordan’s partner is a constable and his father is also a police officer and the officer in charge of Hallett police,” he said.
“So as you can understand, there are family members who are directly involved in the impact of this particular incident, both as family members and also as police officers.”
The police commissioner also revealed that a local resident had provided assistance to one of the injured officers during the incident.
“We’re very grateful that that person is stepping forward and providing critical support,” Comm Stevens said.
Comm Stevens praised the first responders.
“In all likelihood (ambulance officers’) quick actions very likely saved the life of at least one police officer,” he said.