Veterinarian Takes Stand In Trial For Man Accused In K-9 Officer's Fatal Stabbing
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Testimony continues Wednesday morning in the trial of a man accused of fatally wounding a Pittsburgh Police dog and injuring several other officers as they tried to arrest him.
The surgeon who treated the Pittsburgh Police K-9 named Rocco, who was stabbed as police tried to apprehend suspect John Rush, testified that the dog's condition got progressively worse.
Dr. Julie Compton of the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center testified that the vets found liters of blood in the dog's abdomen, and that the dog's spine was featured by the knife.
She said a large amount of force was necessary to shred the spine.
The knife left a 3-centimeter wound in the exterior of the back, but left a 5-inch long internal injury that damaged the kidney and aorta.
Rocco died two days later.
Officer Philip Lerza, the officer partnered with Rocco, testified about the night Rocco was attacked.
When the dog patrolled the basement where Rush was hiding, "He stopped abruptly and then he did a quick head snap to the right. It pretty much alerted me somebody was there. Then, the actor jumped out swinging his hands wildly."
Lerza didn't know that Rocco had been stabbed until Rush was in custody.
"I saw blood on his mouth. I reached to pet him and there was dark red blood on my hands," Lerza said.
Pittsburgh Police Officer Dan Nowak also testified about the fight between police officers and Rush the night he was apprehended.
"He was continually swinging, punching and kicking. He was out of control," Nowak said. "He fought like an out of control maniac."
Nowak testified he was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries to his finger and a sprained ankle.
He was off the job for three to four weeks after that fight.
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