Camaraderie between local law enforcement officials apparently does not extend to the canine world, as an El Cajon Police K-9 unit responding to assist in a search instead chose to attack a group of La Mesa Police officers on Monday night.
Responding to a disturbance on the 8200 block of Orchard Avenue in La Mesa shortly before 8 p.m., local officers received a report that two adult brothers were arguing inside a residence, and one had threatened another with a hammer. It was unclear whether the attacker was still present or had fled. Sergeant Michael Pierce of the La Mesa Police requested K-9 backup, and an El Cajon Police unit responded with a police dog to search a crawl space below the house to determine whether the suspect had taken refuge there.
But when officers from El Cajon released their dog, instead of proceeding to the crawl space it instead turned and charged a group of La Mesa officers standing about 15 feet away. Recognizing the dog’s intent, Pierce jumped in front of his fellow officers and was bitten in the arm, suffering lacerations to the arm and wrist before the dog handler from El Cajon regained control.
Pierce received treatment for his wounds at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The unnamed suspect in the alleged hammer attack remains at large.
Camaraderie between local law enforcement officials apparently does not extend to the canine world, as an El Cajon Police K-9 unit responding to assist in a search instead chose to attack a group of La Mesa Police officers on Monday night.
Responding to a disturbance on the 8200 block of Orchard Avenue in La Mesa shortly before 8 p.m., local officers received a report that two adult brothers were arguing inside a residence, and one had threatened another with a hammer. It was unclear whether the attacker was still present or had fled. Sergeant Michael Pierce of the La Mesa Police requested K-9 backup, and an El Cajon Police unit responded with a police dog to search a crawl space below the house to determine whether the suspect had taken refuge there.
But when officers from El Cajon released their dog, instead of proceeding to the crawl space it instead turned and charged a group of La Mesa officers standing about 15 feet away. Recognizing the dog’s intent, Pierce jumped in front of his fellow officers and was bitten in the arm, suffering lacerations to the arm and wrist before the dog handler from El Cajon regained control.
Pierce received treatment for his wounds at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. The unnamed suspect in the alleged hammer attack remains at large.