A man suspected of being under the influence of drugs stabbed a K9 officer with a BBQ fork as police tried to arrest him early Wednesday, authorities said.
The violent attack on the police dog, whose name is Mickey, happened just before 1 a.m. in the 700 block of 16th Street in San Diego’s Egger Highlands community.
According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the man’s family called authorities to report that he was acting erratically and possibly on a controlled substance. The family was concerned about his well-being and wanted him evaluated.
As police arrived at the man’s home on Coronado Avenue, he ran away, armed with a BBQ fork.
A couple of hours later he returned home and began banging on the doors and windows, the SDPD said. Officers were once again called to the area and the man, once again, ran away.
Half an hour later, police tracked down the man on 16th Street. He was still wielding the BBQ fork, police said, and refused to follow orders from officers.
The SDPD said a K9 officer was deployed to help apprehend the man. As the dog approached, the man stabbed the K9 twice with the BBQ fork, once in the neck and once on his backside.
Officers Tasered the man and took him into custody. No other officers were injured.
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The police dog was taken to a local animal hospital but is expected to survive. Officials said Mickey was home with his handler Wednesday morning, resting and recovering.
Mickey is a Belgian Malinois who has been with the SDPD for a year-and-a-half. He came to the police department when he was four years old, after beibng trained in Europe.
The incident is under investigation; the man’s name was not released.
