A man who fled from the scene of a reported fight in the Fallbrook area later tried to twist a K-9's neck in an effort to escape arrest, San Diego Sheriff's Lieutenant Dave Schaller said.
The incident began early Sunday when deputies from Fallbrook responded to reports of a possible fight that may have been related to road rage. The caller told deputies a gun may have been fired and people were fighting.
When Deputy Jeremy Banks arrived at the scene, he saw a silver Mitsubishi Galant driving away with its lights off.
When he tried to stop the car, it took off and a short pursuit occured.
The car, however, eventually stopped approximately a mile later and the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Felipe Cortez, fled on foot.
When deputies found him on the 500 block of Elder Street, they demanded he surrender and warned him he would send a K-9 after him twice.
Cortez ignored the orders and deputies sent their K-9 after him.
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When the K-9 bit him, Cortez grabbed the dog by its collar, struck him and twisted his head. The K-9 was uninjured, but Cortez suffered puncture wounds to his lower left leg.
Cortez was arrested for evading a peace officer, delaying or resisting a peace officer, assaulting a police K-9, obstructing a police canine. He was taken to Temecula Valley Hospital for treatment and will be booked into Vista jail once he recovers.
