Castro Valley Police Dog Mauls Suspect Already In Custody
CASTRO VALLEY (CBS SF) -- Disturbing video posted on Facebook Monday shows a Alameda County Sheriff's deputy K-9 mauling a suspect who was already in handcuffs.
The clip was posted by a Facebook user who said she was the sister of the suspect, identified as Joshua Phillips. She said the police dog bit her brother when he was already subdued and in custody.
WARNING: Graphic content, explicit language
The Alameda County Sheriff's office said the incident happened just after 2 a.m. early Monday morning.
After officers arrested the suspect for DUI on B Street in Castro Valley, sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said one of the deputies accidentally bent down and hit a button on his vest that opens the K-9 door remotely when an officer is in trouble.
That was when the K-9 ran out and attacked the suspect. The suspect received multiple stitches on his leg, but is expected to be okay.
"He did not deserve what happened that night so for that we're very apologetic," said Kelly.
Phillips said he is still in a lot of pain, struggling to walk or even sit comfortably after being discharged from the hospital.
"I want justice," said Phillips. "I want the dog euthanized, or put down in layman's terms, and I want something done. I want full compensation."
Kelly says the incident is triggering an internal review on where the remote door opener is placed on an officer's vest.
Phillips still faces DUI charges and his car is still in impound.
