Police dog bites handcuffed man Police dog bites handcuffed man (September 10, 2004)

Canine was not commanded to approach him

By Huong C. Pham

Mountain View police are investigating a canine bite on a handcuffed suspect.

The police dog bit 25-year-old Patrick Terry of Jacksonville, Fla, while he was on the ground in handcuffs. An undercover officer on a bicycle, who was investigating a prior burglary in the neighborhood, saw Terry and a woman arguing at about 1 a.m. on Sept. 4 on the 2700 block of El Camino Real.

Unsure if domestic violence was taking place, the officer started to approach the woman.

When an unrelated police car passed the scene, Terry said out loud that he would assault an officer if the police show up, said Police Chief Scott Vermeer.

The woman then shouted, prompting the undercover officer to intervene by showing his gun, detaining Terry and calling in dispatch. Soon after, police officers in uniform and a canine officer arrived on the scene. When the canine officer left his car to assist in detaining Terry, the police dog also exited the car and advanced toward Terry. The dog then bit Terry's left thigh.

The dog was pulled off Terry and handled by his canine officer.

"The matter is under review, and Terry has yet to file a claim," said City Attorney Michael Martello. "The dog didn't attack the man. The dog did what it was supposed to do but it did it without being commanded."

The dog might have to go through some retraining but is temporarily off duty, added Martello.

Terry was not arrested or charged with any crime and was released. He received medical attention for his thigh wound.

E-mail Huong C. Pham at hpham@mv-voice.com

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