Pit Bull Attacks Fairfax Officer; 2nd Incident In 4 Years
FAIRFAX (CBS 5) - A Fairfax police officer was badly hurt in a dog attack, and officers report that this isn't the first time they've been forced to use a weapon on the same animal.
Officer Rhonda Richardson was dealing with a man who appeared to be intoxicated at a youth baseball game when she heard his dog approaching. She tried to pepper spray the animal, but was bit on the hand.
"She turned to notice the dog, and it was at that point he lunged at her at her face," said Farifax Police Sgt. Stuart Baker. "She blocked the dog with her off hand, as she tried to draw her hand gun, she had a situation where, with all the kids and families, she clearly didn't have a safe location where she could defend herself…and shoot the dog."
The dog, a pit bull mix named "Breezey," and its owner, 35-year-old Adam Laflin, have had previous encounters with Fairfax PD. In fact, the man who is now the police chief said that, when he was an officer, he had to shoot the dog.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
Chris Morin and two other officers tried to restrain and arrest Laflin in 2009, and were charged by the dog.
"He clearly was going to attack us," recalled Chief Morin. "I fired two rounds at the dog, and, unfortunately, I was forced to take that action."
After that incident, the dog was taken in by the Humane Society. Following a hearing the dog was released. The animal had nearly finished a 3-year probation period when it bit officer Richardson. There will be a new hearing on the fate of the dog, but it may not be set free again.
"He's been a potentially dangerous dog. The next step (is that), potentially, he will be deemed a vicious dog. That's really up to the hearing officer to decide," said John Reese of the Marin Humane Society.
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