Last year, Jacobs posted a poignant video of her sobbing while Samson, her Rottweiler, comforted her and used a paw to prevent her from hitting herself.
Advertisement
In a post along with the video, Jacobs said she shared the raw moment to show what it is like to live with Asperger’s and raise awareness about the disorder. The dog she trained, Samson, comforted her and interfered with the punches she delivered to her head and chest. “He was frustrated that no matter what therapist he saw, no one understood and neglected his desire for health and happiness”, said Kae Glenn, a friend of Clarke who is a transgender man, in a Facebook message to the Republic.
“I wasn’t there, so I don’t know how she was behaving”, Allen said.
Her mother, Stacia, has said the shooting was not necessary and that her daughter was fine the day before.
He said police had had contact with Jacobs once before, about a year ago, when they took a report from her about some harassment over the internet.
Officers went to her home after receiving reports a woman was threatening to kill herself, Detective Estaban Flores said at a Friday news briefing. Both officers fired their weapons, he said.
Below is the video that went viral, showing her struggles with Asperger’s and how Samson would help her cope with that illness.
Allen said she called police Thursday to ask that they check on Jacobs after the 24-year-old sent Allen a suicidal email that morning asking that someone care for the dog, Sampson. All officers are OK, PD says. Her mom calls the dog “the last piece of Danielle they have”.
However, Flores says the officers did not know that when they answered the call.
Her mother, Stacia, told the Daily News there are questions being raised as to why police had to shoot Jacobs.
The officer-involved shooting of Jacobs is under investigation.
Flores said the Mesa department had already increased the number of officers with training in crisis intervention.
Advertisement
“They shot and killed a 24-year-old autistic, mentally ill individual whom they had been familiar with and were aware of her special needs'”.
