Videos show coyote run over, shot dead by OPP

Sarah Leggett posted videos on her Facebook page that appear toshow a police cruiser running over an animal on the street.

Warning: the videos contain graphic images.

"Oh my God, he just ran the coyote over," one woman is heard saying as the incident was being filmed. "I can't believe the cop hit it with his car. Why would you do that?"

Due to the danger this animal posed to both people and other animals and for the safety of the community, police had to put down this animal.OPP

In a statement, police said theyresponded to a report that the animal, which was spottedon Seventh Street in the Town of Collingwood,was "aggressive and possibly rabid."

"Due to the danger this animal posed to both people and other animals and for the safety of the community, police had to put down this animal," the OPP said.

Struck three times

Leggett saidin a post that she "couldn't believe" what she saw.

Many took to Twitter to express their outrage at what they saw on the video.

The alleged incident was also condemned byThe Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals.

"We didn't want to think this was real when it was sent to us," says Michael Howie, aspokesmanfor the organization.

"But it is irrefutable at this point the officer did in fact run over what we have been told was a coyote multiple times prior to using his sidearm to kill him in a more humane fashion," Howie said.

Acting Sgt. Lynda Cranney of Central Region OPP did not return CBC News' call for a comment.

The three videos are in this Facebook post. Warning:they contain graphic images. In the one video, the officer shoots the coyote, apparently after it was hit by the police cruiser. Another video shows the police cruiser striking the animal.