Steven Seagal mulls defamation lawsuit

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PHOENIX, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Steven Seagal says he is considering a lawsuit against a suspect who claimed the actor killed his puppy while working as a special sheriff's deputy in Phoenix.

Seagal and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio publicly denied the allegations this week, and Seagal told reporters he had contacted an attorney about filing a defamation-of-character lawsuit in response.

"I've been called a lot of things in my career, some of them not so kind," Seagal said.

"To be labeled an animal abuser is beyond the pale and that is simply a role I will not accept."

Jesus Llovera has said Seagal shot his dog while part of a law-enforcement team that served a warrant at his home this spring to break up an alleged cockfighting ring.

Seagal said Llovera and his Phoenix attorney were looking for headlines and a quick payoff, KTAR-TV in Phoenix reported.

Arpaio said in a written statement this week no shots were fired in the raid and no animals were injured. He said Llovero had past ties to drug dealers and had provided no hard evidence that a dog had been harmed.