Former Wichita police officer charged in shooting that left child hurt

A former Wichita police officer who injured a nine-year-old girl while trying to shoot a dog has been charged.

Eyewitness News learned Wednesday morning that Dexter Betts was charged with aggravated battery, a felony, on March 20.

Court documents say Betts "unlawfully and recklessly" caused "great bodily harm, disfigurement" to the child when he fired his handgun at a dog that was in the room with the child.

Police say on December 30, 2017, Betts and other officers responded to a home in the 1500 block North Gentry (near 13th and Hillside) for a domestic dispute and suicidal person with a gun.

They say during the course of the call, Betts tried to shoot a dog that was charging at him but missed. The round struck a hard surface and broke into fragments. A piece of a fragment ricocheted and struck the nine-year-old girl in the forehead, just above her right eye. She was treated at a local hospital and released that evening.

The Wichita Police Department fired Betts on Jan. 25, 2018. He had only been with the department year.

Betts has been summonsed to appear in court on April 11.

Betts' attorney, Jess Hoeme, released the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

"The accidental injury of this child was extremely regrettable, but it was just that… an accident. We are looking forward to our day in court. We will demonstrate that Mr. Betts’ actions were fully in line with the Wichita Police Department’s standard operating procedures for incidents involving out‐of‐control animals. As the attorney for the girl’s family, Charlie O’Hara is convicting Mr. Betts before the evidence has even been presented to a jury. He’s more concerned about ramrodding a quick conviction so it could strengthen any civil lawsuit he may file against the City. We’re not going to let that happen."