Willowbrook Police Officer Bitten By Police Dog
A Willowbrook police sergeant was out of surgery Wednesday afternoon, after being bitten by a police dog during a robbery pursuit.
Wilowbrook Police Chief Mark Shelton said Sgt. Arthur Svehla was pursuing three suspects in a robbery Tuesday night.
Svehla, the police dog, Icha, and the dog's handler were chasing the suspects when the dog was released to help in the chase, Shelton said.
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Svehla was leading a pursuit of the three dogs and was bitten when he and the dog caught up with two suspects.
"The dog did exactly what he was trained to do. The officer who was bitten had proceeded in front of the K-9 handler in a foot pursuit of the three suspects, at which time the dog bit the officer," Shelton said. "This officer had got in front of trying to corner off, if you will, the three fleeing suspects and the dog also had gotten ahead and saw the officer first, at which time he bit the arm of the officer."
Svehla needed surgery on his arm, but had been released from the hospital by Wednesday afternoon. The dog, Icha, was being placed back on duty after being checked by a local veterinarian.
Two men were arrested, but the third suspect got away.
Marshall Livingston, 20, and Paul Lamoureux, 19, were charged with resisting a police officer and fleeing and eluding police. Livingston was also charged with battery.
Bond was set at $35,000 for Livingston and $50,000 for Lamoureaux at a hearing before a DuPage County judge on Wednesday.
